The Mexican salamander Axolotl can regenerate limbs and even spinal chord after injury.
2 February 2016, 8pm
SCIENCE CAFÉ: Regeneration
GrooveStation Dresden (Katharinenstr. 11-13)
A lost leg, a cut tail - no problem for the axolotl. This salamander from Mexico is a real miracle healer and can regrow limbs and even spinal chord after injury. But planarians are the real champions of regeneration: If you cut them into several pieces, each piece will grow into a new worm.
Regeneration is a strategy used by some animals. But why can some do what others - or we humans - can't do? What are the molecular mechanisms underlying regeneration? How does an organism know what's missing, what tissues have to regrow? And will we be able to use this knowledge one day to help patients?
These experts will be available for a discussion:
- Jochen Rink, Research Group Leader at the MPI-CBG
- Dunja Knapp, postdoc in the Tanaka Lab at the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD)
- Alexander Garthe, postdoc in the Kempermann Lab at the CRTD