REGENERATION

The axolotl has the ability to regenerate its limbs, jaws, tail, spinal cord, skin, and even its brain. Regeneration of the limbs specifically has been studied the most in axolotls. During regeneration of the limbs, the affected tissue becomes a zone of progenitor cells called the blastema that can differentiate into specific types of cells. The blastema is able to regenerate the missing limb. In the axolotl, the progenitor cells have restricted potential. This means that during regeneration, the cells are restricted to a specific tissue identity. The dermis layer of skin is the most flexible tissue and is able to form cartilage and tendons during the process of regeneration.