A team at Northeastern University has discovered a key to limb regeneration in axolotls, the smiley pink salamanders. This finding could one day help scientists regrow human fingers or limbs. Researchers found that axolotls respond to retinoic acid, a molecule similar to the retinol in many skin creams.
The discovery is significant because axolotls have an exceptional ability to regenerate their limbs at a fast rate. Scientists have long been fascinated by this process. The team discovered how axolotl flesh cells react to retinoic acid, which helps them control the amount of acid in their limbs to grow the precise amount of tissue lost due to injury.
This allows the animals to determine whether to regenerate a finger, hand, or entire arm, making it an important step towards understanding human limb regeneration. The study’s findings were published Tuesday in the journal Nature.
Source: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/06/11/metro/axolotl-salamander-biologists-study-limb-regeneration