In the name of survival, starfish sever their own body parts to escape predators. They will also eventually regenerate those lost limbs, but how this biological process works has remained a mystery.

For many creatures, having a limb caught in a predator’s mouth is usually a death sentence. Not starfish, though—they can detach the limb and leave the predator something to chew on while they crawl ...

Photograph of a specimen of the common European starfish Asterias rubens with a regenerating arm. Starfish shed arms (autotomy) when attacked by predators and then regenerate a new arm to replace the ...

Living in a murky lake around Mexico City, surrounded by aggressive and cannibalistic neighbors, the axolotl lives at constant risk of losing a limb to a neighbor's nibble. Fortunately, lost limbs ...

Axolotls are known for their ability to grow back just about any body part that is bitten off by a predator, but the trigger for this regeneration was a mystery until now. It turns out that retinoic ...

Mapping limb regeneration is an intricate, molecular dance. If an axolotl loses a leg, it gets a new one–complete with a functional foot and all four toes. Over just a few weeks or months, bone, ...

When humans lose a limb due to an injury, there are lifelong lifestyle changes that are necessary to accommodate the loss of the arm or leg. In some instances, the changes are minor, with people ...

IMBA- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Living in a murky lake around Mexico City, surrounded by aggressive and cannibalistic neighbors, the axolotl lives at ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. If an axolotl loses a leg, it gets a new one–complete with a ...