The Power of Regeneration

If you are a science fiction or fantasy fan, like me, you'll find yourself sometimes in conversation with your friends about the best powers in your favorite story. When the question comes up, 'Which superpower would you like to have ?', there are the classic answers like super strength, flight or invisibility. However, people rarely consider one of the greatest powers that saved so many of our beloved heroes in movies and books — the power of regeneration. Like in  Wolverine, who can heal any wound or Deadpool who can regrow limbs or the potions Hermione used to restore Ron's shredded arm. Now, what if it's not just fantasy?

One real-life version of Deadpool is the Axolotl. This species of salamanders have the astonishing ability to regrow entire limbs with their original function. An ability to that extent is unprecedented in the animal kingdom. However, a new research article published by researchers from the Duke University of Medicine suggests that the same power lingers in the human genome. They found that humans have a 'salamander-like' regenerative ability to regrow cartilage. The responsible system in humans can function autonomous, to an extent, and initiate tissue repair. The researchers write that the built-in repair system is made of microRNA and can be found in ankle joints, and weaker versions in knees and hips. MicroRNA is a non-coding RNA that is used in silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, which means that it is responsible what and when proteins are produced.  It is hypothesized that the ability to regulate microRNA is one of the key differences between humans and Axolotls.

Though it may sound dull, and nothing like superpowers, it is a major breakthrough. Thanks to this knowledge, we will be able to treat diseases such as osteoarthritis, which is caused by the breakdown of protein tissue in the joints over time— a condition that has a significant impact on mobility and agility on many people in the later years. One scientist said, "We believe we could boost these regulators [miRNA] to fully regenerate degenerated cartilage of an arthritic joint. If we can figure out what regulators we are missing compared with salamanders, we might even be able to add the missing components…" And once we are able to instigate an automatic cartilage regeneration, we may be able someday to extend this ability to grow entire limbs back.

This article brings new hope into the ongoing research of tissue regeneration. The possibilities that a miRNA drug could open to the treatment of limb loss are endless. However, as of right now, we only understand the mechanics but have no way of actively initiate such processes. So, you may want to hold on any crime-fighting activities that may cause you to lose one or two arms.

Posted by Gene (5)