Model systems for regeneration: salamanders

ABSTRACT

Salamanders have been hailed as champions of regeneration, exhibiting a remarkable ability to regrow tissues, organs and even whole body parts, e.g. their limbs. As such, salamanders have provided key insights into the mechanisms by which cells, tissues and organs sense and regenerate missing or damaged parts. In this Primer, we cover the evolutionary context in which salamanders emerged. We outline the varieties of mechanisms deployed during salamander regeneration, and discuss how these mechanisms are currently being explored and how they have advanced our understanding of animal regeneration. We also present arguments about why it is important to study closely related species in regeneration research.

Abstract

Summary: This Primer provides an overview of salamanders as a model system for studying regeneration, outlining the mechanisms deployed during salamander regeneration and highlighting how the study of salamanders has increased our understanding of regeneration more broadly.