Current Understanding on tail regeneration in Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis)

Anoles typically will drop their tail in response to a stressor, and will drop the tail as a distraction for a potential predator. By dropping their tail, anoles are able to avoid their predators, and have adequate time to escape to a safer spot. The anole drops its tail at a muscular junction, where the cells can easily detach in a life-threatening event. Over time this tail will regenerate, but it can cause major functioning issues in anoles. It takes a lot of energy for the anoles to regenerate their tail, making this a difficult task when trying to evade prey in the wild. This research presents the importance of a gene found responsible to regenerate anole tails. Although these genes are conserved in vertebrates, they are not active in humans. These deactivated genes are being targeted to investigate whether human organs or limbs can possibly be regenerated if this gene is reactivated. This could have potentially thousands of life-saving medical implications if an efficient way to regenerate organs is found.

Link to article: https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/201608.0195/v1

Supplementary source: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/lizard-tails-give-clues-cartilage-formation