Don’t mess with these mice

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 22:01:00 +0000

Many species of starfish relish oysters, clams and other shellfish, much to the chagrin of fishermen who watch over oyster beds and farms. Legend has it that oyster fishermen used to dispose of any starfish they dredged up by cutting the creatures in half and tossing them back into the ocean. Since starfish can regenerate lost limbs, the fishermen unwittingly doubled their foes’ numbers. It’s hard to say exactly how true this oft-repeated story is, but the starfish’s regenerative talents are biological fact. Salamanders, newts and many other amphibians can regrow severed limbs too, replacing all the missing bone, muscle, nerves and skin without any trace of scar tissue. By and large, mammals are not so fortunate. Perhaps the most notable exception is a particular strain of lab mouse known as Murphy Roths Large (MRL), which seals small holes in its ears and regrows toetips thanks to its unique gene expression.

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Don’t mess with these mice