Genetic code enables zebrafish to mend damaged organs

(caltech.edu)

108 points | by bookofjoe 3 days ago

5 comments

  • zombot 17 hours ago
    Genetic code enables lizards to regrow their tails.
    • sidewndr46 15 hours ago
      I have also used genetic code to repair my epidermis with a fibrous tissue after injury. It keeps moisture in and pathogens out.
      • dietr1ch 10 hours ago
        This but a scratch
        • lawlessone 9 hours ago
          Genetic code enables me to understand that reference.
    • TedDoesntTalk 14 hours ago
      Future humans will be part human, part lizard, part zebra fish, and seveal other species. We will regrow teeth, heart, and limbs. Sometimes we might accidentally grow a tail.
    • MangoToupe 11 hours ago
      To a certain extent. Often times the regenerated "tails" are fatty stubs.
  • flobosg 16 hours ago
    The related publication is unfortunately paywalled, but here’s the preprint: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.01.16.633462v1
  • m3kw9 12 hours ago
    We really have to ask why humans did not evolve to have this capability before trying to jig one up
    • danielbln 10 hours ago
      Because nothing comes without a cost. Maybe mutations that would allow us to regrow limbs also lead to horrific cancers that snuffed out any chance for reproduction. Maybe the benefit didn't outweigh the additional energy budget. Maybe it was just not necessary for procreation vs our advanced cognition so it never played into evolutionary fitness (compared to a lizard that can drop a tail when it's attacked, and regrow it for the neYt attack, which would surely improve its evolutionary fitness).

      Additional reasons: our mammalian organs are highly complex, we live a long time, we are large animals with giant brains and high metabolic cost. The list goes on.

  • sydbarrett74 14 hours ago
    Two words: nocturnal bottleneck.
  • taneq 16 hours ago
    "Zebrafish mends damaged organs using Genetics and Code."

        if (organIsDamaged()) {
            dont();
        }