STANFORD, Calif., April 24 (UPI) -- A U.S. study may lead to a major advance in human regenerative medicine, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology says.
Research conducted at Stanford University shows a human evolutionary ancestor, the sea squirt, can correct abnormalities during a series of generations, suggesting a similar regenerative process might be possible in humans.
"We hope the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon will ultimately lead to new insights regarding the potential of cells and tissues to be reprogrammed and regenerate compromised organs in humans," said Ayelet Voskoboynik, first author of the study.
The scientists note missing limbs, scarred hearts, broken spines, and wounded muscles always try to repair themselves, but often the result is invalidism or disease. But if the genetic sequence described in the sea squirt study applies to humans, the findings represent a major step for regenerative medicine.
The research is reported in the May issue of The FASEB Journal.
