Salamander Genome Project

The axoloti salamander is the model organism the University of Florida’s McKnight Brain Institute is using to investigate neuronal regeneration.  Researcher Dr. Edward Scott has established that humans share about 90% of the genes the salamander relies up to regenerate tissue after trauma. This might explain why people can regenerate a finger tip or up to half of their livers, but not full arms or spinal cords. Recently, Scott’s group received $2.4m from the NIH to carry out their study of neuronal regeneration.   MORE

Image Credit:  McKnight Brain Institute