this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2025
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"In a study published in Nature Communications, the researchers reveal an elegant molecular mechanism that acts like a GPS coordinate system for regenerating cells.... the puzzle was how the cells in the regenerating limb-stump controlled their levels so precisely to know exactly where they were on the axis from shoulder to hand.”

The Nature paper:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59497-5

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[–] Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 17 points 20 hours ago

I don't want to know how much testing they needed to do for that

[–] WanderingThoughts 30 points 1 day ago (5 children)

Until they try it on humans and it turns out it also grows cancer.

[–] MysteriousSophon21@lemmy.world 7 points 13 hours ago

Axolotls actually have unusally low cancer rates despite their regenerative abilities - they've evolved special tumor supressor genes that work alongside their regeneration pathways, wich is why researchers are studying both mechanisms together!

[–] Nangijala@feddit.dk 10 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Then they just need to figure out how to use the non-cancer-gene from those blind naked African rats who can run equally fast forward and backwards, look like a wrinkly penis with legs and teeth and are friends with Ron Stoppable and we will have figured out a cure to cancer while regenerating body parts left and right. It'll be great.

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 6 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Do you want morlocks? 'Cos that's how you get morlocks

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 1 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

How do you know this?

What have you done?

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 1 points 11 hours ago

air raid sirens

[–] SGG@lemmy.world 24 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Finally we can all become Deadpool

Or Curt Connors

[–] Lemminary@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Finally, I can become bisexual, and funny!

[–] sylver_dragon@lemmy.world 4 points 21 hours ago

That seems to be what they are trying to control. Just "turning on" the regenerative mechanisms is a fast track to a cancerous growth. This research seems to be aimed at understanding how to provide that mechanism with the chemical instruction of what to grow into. While we aren't there yet, each time a new part of that instruction set is figured out, we get a step closer to regrowing lost tissue. Living organisms are incredibly complex and understanding large, complex processes like growing a limb is going to take a lot of work and time.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Axolotls can't have cancer?

[–] WanderingThoughts 6 points 1 day ago

They can but have additional mechanisms to attack cancer apparently.

[–] charade_you_are@sh.itjust.works 50 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Does this lead to me getting a bigger dick? Otherwise, I'm not interested!

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 45 points 1 day ago (3 children)

no but if it gets cut off for whatever reason...

[–] steal_your_face@lemmy.ml 22 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Finally I can get my foreskin back

[–] Hupf@feddit.org 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 day ago

Extension to knife play

[–] cows_are_underrated@feddit.org 3 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Fuck. I want to get rid of it, not grow a new one.

[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 5 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

You could get rid of it. Several times, even.

[–] LogicalDrivel@sopuli.xyz 2 points 19 hours ago

🎵 Detachable Penis 🎶

[–] Breezy@lemmy.world 1 points 20 hours ago

Thats a bit more kink that isn't wanted..... usually..

[–] simplejack@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago (4 children)

It will. It’ll finally grow back now.

How did you know? I gave no hints

[–] msage@programming.dev 3 points 1 day ago

Thank you, Jesus, I needed you.

[–] altphoto@lemmy.today 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Hey! I'm a grower too! Definitely not a shower.

[–] JadenSmith@sh.itjust.works 2 points 23 hours ago

So this is what they meant by Jesus' second coming.

[–] CaptDust@sh.itjust.works 42 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Woah, fascinating. Of course very far out, but manipulating and regenerating human limbs in a similar way would be serious sci-fi stuff. Just impressive

[–] Sibbo@sopuli.xyz 19 points 1 day ago (6 children)

Not that I would be an expert, but limbs start forming so early on in the womb, that that will probably be a very difficult thing to do. Nevertheless, never say never.

[–] Lumisal@lemmy.world 4 points 19 hours ago

Now's a good time to point out that the first organ transplant happened in the 1950s, and it hasn't been even 80 years since, meaning there are not only people alive who remember a time when that didn't exist, but also there are surgeons who may only be in their early 40s that became transplant surgeons while the first ever transplant surgeon was still alive, and may have even gotten tutelage from him.

[–] FartMaster69@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

just put people back in for repairs

[–] slaacaa@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

How it could work in a future: they pre-grow limbs in labs for a few months/yearst, then when somebody needs it, they attach one that matches closely. After that, you get the treatment and the limb continues growing until it reaches the size needed.

[–] Sibbo@sopuli.xyz 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Imagine running around with a child arm for a year or so.

[–] sylver_dragon@lemmy.world 4 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Compared to no arm for the rest of my life, being called "baby-hand" for a year seems like a small price to pay.

[–] Sibbo@sopuli.xyz 3 points 20 hours ago

True. It would probably be funny.

[–] gnuplusmatt@reddthat.com 1 points 22 hours ago

Isn't that a Michael Bay film?

[–] snipon@feddit.dk 2 points 1 day ago

Come on, it will only take 20 years.

[–] Rolder@reddthat.com 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Hmm, I think I’d rather have a cool cyberpunk robot limb then just regrowing my shitty old flesh and blood one

[–] Sibbo@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 day ago

With a built-in ice cream freezer!

[–] OberonSwanson@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

At this point, I'm willing to a genetic test subject. Worst case I look like an axolotl, but others will be one step closer to enjoying the fruits.

[–] Tikiporch@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's a great idea. A banana that regenerates when you cut it in half.

[–] youCanCallMeDragon@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

First step, give the banana a mouth

[–] GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

second step...I'll be in my bunk.

[–] Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 day ago