Biology
The Evolutionary Origins of Tetrapod Limb Regeneration Capacity
Quick fact
Despite the wide diversity of tetrapods, the genetic machinery for limb regeneration is shared among all of them, including mammals. It is not a novel invention of salamanders, but an ancient inheritance that has been largely silenced in most species.
Why this is interesting
Imagine if losing a limb were a temporary inconvenience rather than a lifelong disability. Some animals, like salamanders, can regrow an entire arm. But why can't we? The answer to this might lie in deep evolutionary time.