They might allow limb regeneration science.
With their playful expressions and distinctive frilly gills, axolotls have become beloved in pop culture and gaming, notably featured in Minecraft. However, beyond their charm, these remarkable amphibians are offering scientists valuable insights into one of medicine’s biggest mysteries: the possibility of regenerating human limbs.
What sets axolotls apart is their extraordinary regenerative ability. No matter their age, they can regrow not just limbs, but also parts of their heart, lungs, and even brain. Biologist James Monaghan of Northeastern University, who leads research on axolotls, describes them as champions of natural regeneration.
In a recent study published in Nature Communications on June 10, Monaghan’s team used genetically modified axolotls that glow under certain conditions to investigate how regeneration works. They focused on understanding how cells in a severed limb know which part to regrow. For instance, if an upper arm is lost, it regrows in full, but if the injury occurs lower, only the appropriate section regenerates.
A key player appears to be retinoic acid, a molecule related to vitamin A and commonly found in skincare products. This compound acts like a signaling system, guiding cells based on their position in the body. The researchers observed that when axolotls were treated with a drug that interfered with retinoic acid breakdown, their limbs regrew incorrectly—suggesting that the molecule plays a critical role in positioning and patterning during regeneration.
Though humans don’t naturally possess this ability beyond early development, scientists are intrigued by the possibility of reactivating dormant genetic pathways. Since humans and axolotls share many of the same genes involved in limb development, understanding how these processes work in axolotls could one day inform regenerative therapies for people. Interest in axolotls is also helping raise public enthusiasm for this cutting-edge science, particularly among younger generations.
Discussion about this post