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HAPPY BIRTHDAY U.S.A.!MAY GOD BLESS YOU!
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SUMMARY: Ever since Aristotle scientists have been trying to discover how salamanders can regrow lost limbs. Recently they have been surprised to find out that cells near the site of an amputation revert to adult stem cells which can only develop into the type of cell necessary to regenerate the lost body part. In other words, when a salamander loses a tail, it won't regrow a leg in its place. Scientists had thought these cells would be pluripotent, able to form many different cell types.In the study, published in Nature, scientists explain that when these amphibians lose a body part, the muscle, bone, and skin cells near the amputation site change into a clump of adult stem cells called a blastema. The blastema cells all look alike and scientists do not yet know how they can go on to form the correct tissue type. The researchers learned that cells added to the blastema always became the right kind of cell. Muscle became muscle. Cartilage became cartilage. Only cells just beneath the skin were able to develop into more than one cell type.
Scientists studying salamanders hope to find ways to regenerate human limbs, and this study may help them in their investigations. Instead of trying to generate multipotent or pluripotent cells, they now think they need to try to understand how these cells get the appropriate signals to make a new limb in terms of organizing the different tissue types.
(Photograph of a Fire Salamander from Wikimedia Commons)
To read the entire article click on this DISCOVER link.
COMMENT: According to Wikipedia, amphibians are unique among vertebrates in being able to grow back body parts such as limbs and tails. We must be in awe of this ability. The cells at the site of the lost limb "know" exactly what kind of tissue to become in order to regenerate the lost body part. Even our very intelligent researchers are not yet able to figure out how they can do this. Need I mention that this seems like just one more on an endless list of examples showing that creatures like salamanders must have been intelligently designed?
A second point that seems reasonable to me regards the unique position salamanders have among vertebrates. The ability to regenerate lost limbs is a wonderful and very positive gift every animal should want to possess. Why is it other vertebrates including humans haven't been able to evolve such an amazing talent, which salamanders can use to escape predators?
The fact remains that the Creator has given to each creature the gifts it needs. Humans can compensate somewhat for the inability to regrow lost limbs by having knowledgeable doctors who can reset bones and sometimes reattach limbs. Perhaps God will some day give them the knowledge to help even humans regenerate lost body parts. While we can't yet grow back lost arms, legs or noses, we humans have been given a gift none of the animals has been promised--the gift of eternal life in heaven available through the death of Jesus Christ, a gift we must not reject if we do not want to imperil our souls.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
What surprising coincidence involved John Adams and Thomas Jefferson?Both Adams (top) and Jefferson (bottom) died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the United States' 50th anniversary They were two of the United State's founding fathers and the only two men who signed the Declaration of Independence to go on to become president.
Source: Wikipedia
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