The secrets of regeneration: how organisms determine the extent of damage

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A new study from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research explains how African killifish regenerate their caudal fins after injury. Led by Augusto Ortega Granillo, Ph.D., the team found that the duration of the cells’ active response to injury is critical for successful regeneration.

Skin cells around the damage and in the removed areas trigger a genetic program that prepares the body for repair. The extracellular matrix, like a sponge, absorbs signals from damaged tissue, guiding the cells to get to work.