Page 31 - Micro5 Brochure 2017
P. 31
Scientists have studied them and they can regenerate with complete
perfection, they can regrow any part of the body including their head. In a
recent article I wrote up about the weird world of the planarian worm, they
can regrow their heads while still retaining their memories prior to decapitation!
Regrowing Legs in Young Frogs
Several years ago the Levin Lab were studying the bioelectrical signals that
change in the distribution of the cellular resting potentials within a tissue or
organ, which allows young tadpoles to regenerate their tails.
The team discovered that two essential components on the surface of the
cells at the wound were required to configure a bioelectric state, stimulating
regeneration.
A Proton Pump, this pumps hydrogen ions out of the cell surface. A specific
Sodium Channel, that allows sodium ions to flow across the cellular
membrane.
This bioelectrical state was an important part of the process to allow cells to
multiply up to a point where it was enough to rebuild the structure. Along with
allowing genes that are important for the regeneration process to be enabled.
Allowing the nerves to develop down the correct path of the new growth.
Limb Regeneration in Older Frogs
The work that Levin's team is doing is to initiate a 'leg building module.' Over
the past 10 years their research has shown that such modules are encoded in
a matrix of cellular resting potentials over the body's tissues. It is this pattern
that holds and determines the encoded data of which organs and tissues are
made and their location.
The team first used gene therapy to allow a proton pump build from yeast,
which would trigger the regeneration bioelectric state in older tadpoles. Older
tadpoles cannot normally regrow their tails. So this method forced the
regrowth of tails, complete with the spinal cord.
A medical cocktail of drugs was created that stimulated the same state with
gene therapy. Now when they gave the same set of drugs to froglets, they got
fascinating results, with the regrowth of hind legs.
Can this be Applied to Humans?
