Which animal can regenerate lost limbs?
Several animals have the remarkable ability to regenerate lost limbs, but one notable example is the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum). The axolotl is a type of salamander that exhibits an extraordinary regenerative capacity. If an axolotl loses a limb, it can regrow a fully functional replacement, including bones, muscles, nerves, and even complex structures like joints. This regeneration process is possible due to the presence of specialized cells called blastemal cells, which can differentiate into various cell types and regenerate the missing tissues. The axolotl's regenerative abilities have made it a valuable model organism for studying tissue regeneration and potential applications in regenerative medicine.