Comments on: Humans could regrow body parts like some amphibians

By: Naddig74

Naddig74 — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:23:00 +0000

Agrees with Niall and Berber Anna; It’s all very exciting but this kind of prolific cell division means more mistakes so more cancers. Proceed with caution. Don’t be a mouse.

By: Deb

Deb — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:23:30 +0000

Wow, so could you turn the gene off after getting a limb amputated or something? Then maybe it would grow back the right way without the problem that needed amputation in the first place. This reminds me of starfish.

By: jammanto

jammanto — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:59:49 +0000

this would be great for war victims or guys from the 7/7 london bombings with limbs missing

By: roz

roz — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:23:56 +0000

this is great, but i hope they can get it right–i dont care to have a hand growing outta my forehead! :0

By: Berber Anna

Berber Anna — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:53:54 +0000

Niall: There is — the gene (afaik) also inhibits the development of cancerous cells. That’s something that will have to be watched closely in these mice, I assume.

By: Slugsie

Slugsie — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:46:26 +0000

This is very intriguing research which could be highly beneficial in the future. I have some questions that I’d be interested to ask of the researchers. How ‘old’ is the replacement? I.e. if for example an 80 year old human has a finger regrown, is the replacement an ’80 year old finger’, or a ’20 year old finger’ – is the skin smooth and taught or old a wrinkly? Would the replacement part have to go through the various embryonic stages of development? There are a bunch of other questions, but they’d be my top two.

By: Niall

Niall — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:02:22 +0000

There must be an evolutionary reason for mammals evolving the p21 gene. It would be interesting to see if the over all life span of p21 gene Mice and p21-less mice as such extensive healing may have dire consequences for metabolism.

By: Cynic

Cynic — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:29:44 +0000

Is there any way at all to encourage them to continue tests? I’m quite willing to volunteer myself for gene-therapy if I’m able to regrow fingers/ears at the end of it.