Grow Your Own Organs

Ever thought about being able to regenerate your own body parts? Slice your thumb off while chopping vegetables...no worries, grow another! Well, researchers at Wistar Institute in Pennsylvania have discovered a strain of mouse that can heal and regenerate itself, even down to its internal organs.

Researchers systematically amputated digits and damaged various organs of the mice, including the heart, liver and brain, most of which grew back, they snipped off the tip of a tail, severed a spinal cord, poked an eye and cauterized various internal organs.

They discovered the strain in 1998 accidentally while working with mice altered genetically for studying autoimmune diseases. They also discovered that mice with the regenerative powers who gave birth, passed the ability to their young. In addition, when cells from the "super mice" are injected into normal mice, they inherit the same abilities.

The next step is to try and identify the molecules that allow mice that don't regenerate to regenerate. The researchers then want to begin studies on humans, any volunteers?