The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences
Abstract
Organ and limb regeneration might seem like something out of science fiction, but research has been ongoing since the late 1960s and has greatly increased at the turn of the century. It is an understatement to say that this has the potential to be life changing. The need for donor transplant organs and transplant waiting lists can become obsolete and the use of immunosuppressants post-transplant will become unnecessary (leading to higher survival rates). Should this happen, trauma patients will be able to achieve complete recoveries and the reign of some congenital disorders will come to an end. Nature has provided several opportunities for us to study this subject. Many species have a natural ability to regenerate complete organs. Human fetuses display a tremendous power of regeneration and healing in utero. The struggle has been in determining how and why this ability disappears after birth as well as applying the lessons we have learned from other species to humans. (However, great progress has been made and this paper will discuss where science is holding in terms of being able to give a human the ability to regenerate complete organs and limbs.) This paper will discuss whether science has been able to determine which lessons to learn from nature and how and when to apply it.
Recommended Citation
Sashitzky, S. (2020). Human Organ/Limb Regeneration: A Dream or Reality?. The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences, 14(1), 34-44. Retrieved from https://touroscholar.touro.edu/sjlcas/vol14/iss1/4
