{"id":31552,"date":"2023-08-31T14:33:31","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T12:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=79019"},"modified":"2023-08-31T14:35:43","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T12:35:43","slug":"autotomy-how-and-why-some-animals-shed-body-parts-so-they-can-grow-a-replacement","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/autotomy-how-and-why-some-animals-shed-body-parts-so-they-can-grow-a-replacement\/","title":{"rendered":"Autotomy: how and why some animals shed body parts so they can grow a replacement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just how are some animals able to regrow lost limbs and other body parts? <\/p>

By JV Chamary\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 31 August 2023 at 12:33 PM<\/p>

\n\n

What is autotomy?<\/h2>\n

Although all animals can replace certain body parts, some are also capable of growing lost limbs, organs and even entire bodies \u2013 an ability to regenerate that rivals the superpowered \u2018healing factor\u2019 used by fictional characters such as Deadpool or Wolverine. This special ability is used not only to replace tissues, but it enables some creatures to shed body parts through self-amputation or \u2018autotomy\u2019.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the difference between repair and regeneration?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Repair is restoration of a diseased or damaged body part, while regeneration involves its complete replacement. They are alternative strategies for dealing with physical trauma, which is a trade-off between speed and precision. Replacing a part may be best in the long run, but regeneration takes time that an animal doesn\u2019t have if it\u2019s bleeding to death or an infection is spreading. Fixing defective parts quickly is a better strategy for short-term survival.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both strategies connect cells using a fibrous connective protein, collagen, but fibres are arranged differently: regeneration is analogous to creating fabric by weaving, while repair is similar to closing a hole by stitching, which can leave scar tissue.<\/p>\n

Which animals can regenerate?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

All animals do it, but to varying degrees. Regeneration is typically limited among species with elaborate bodies, although bony fish can replace spinal cords and salamanders (lizard-shaped amphibians such as newts<\/a><\/strong>) can regrow limbs. Some simple creatures, including flatworms and Hydra<\/i> (relatives of jellyfish), are able to regenerate their bodies from tiny fragments throughout their lives.<\/p>\n

As an individual gets older, it generally becomes less capable of replacing complex structures, such as an organ or an appendage. Even in younger animals, the power to regenerate varies across the body. The heart and joints are hard to replace because they\u2019re in constant or regular use, for example, but skin, liver and blood cells are continually replaced.<\/p>\n