Lizbeth Moncada
Axolotl Regeneration
Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) are a type of
salamander native to a small region of Mexico.
Blood clot stops
bleeding in injury
cite.
Average lifespan: 10-15 years, neotenic.
Nutrition: Carnivores (eat crustaceans, mollusks, insect
eggs, and small fish).
Dedifferentiated
stem cells form a
blastema
One of the most important animals in biology research!
Their genome consists of 32Gb and is one of the largest
genomes ever sequenced! It is 10 times bigger than the
human genome!
Cells in blastema
differentiate again
Axolotls can regenerate their spinal cords, limbs, heart,
and even parts of their brain. Studies suggest that
axolotls do not have special genes that regulate
dedifferentiation, it is regulated in a different way.
Differentiated cells
form amputated
structure
More research is being done to
understand the exact mechanisms
that allow for regeneration.
The inhibition of macrophages after
amputation cause the growth of scar
tissue instead of the growth of a
blastema in the amputated cite!
Bariring, Zahn. “Macrophage.” Commons Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Macrophage.svg.
Gerber, Tobias. “Regeneration of the Axolotl Upper Arm CT.” Science, https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.aaq0681?versioned=true.
“Axolotl Facing Front.” Pngegg, https://www.pngegg.com/en/png-pkxgt.
“Category: CR.” IUNC Red List , https://www.iucnredlist.org/.
“Axolotl: National Geographic.” Animals, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/facts/axolotl?loggedin=true&rnd=1682453854913.
Manly, David. “Regeneration: The Axolotl Story.” Scientific American Blog Network, Scientific American, 13 Apr. 2011, https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/regeneration-theaxolotl-story/.
Sammann, Stephanie. The Insane Biology of: The Axolotl. YouTube, YouTube, 16 Oct. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFkIG9S2Mmg. Accessed 23 Apr. 2023.