The Axolotl's Superpower: Tissue Regeneration!

    This article discusses the sequencing of the axolotl genome, and how it may be significant in regards to human health/medical treatments. Axolotls are neotenic- in other words, they never reach "full maturity". This is how they keep their gills and continue to live underwater. They also hold the title for the largest genome ever fully sequenced. Scientists are particularly interested in researching axolotls for their incredible ability to regenerate lost tissues- even having the capability to regrow their spinal cords, and parts of their brains! Scientists may be able to learn from this ability and translate it into the medical field. Since axolotls have been used as model organisms, health-related events observed in them, such as heart problems, can be studied, and then used in respect to human health-related problems.

    I find this article to be incredibly interesting. The concept of utilizing the information axolotls provide regarding regeneration in a medical sense for humans is groundbreaking. I can only imagine the different manners in which it could be used to better our medical treatments- such as use on burn victims or use in combating degenerative diseases. It makes me wonder just how far we can push the bounds of this regenerative ability- I know we as humans will not be able to regrow entire limbs, but to what extent will we be able to practice this ability in the medical field? 

Odorrana Swinhoana Provides Clues on the Evolution of XY Systems

    Odorrana swinhoana is a frog species that has six sex chromosomes. This is rare in amphibians; scientists have only discovered multiple sex chromosome systems in 10 species of amphibian. "The O. swinhoana frog species is the first vertebrate known to retain descendant genes that now determine sex in mammals, birds, and fishes inherited from a common ancestor" (Hiroshima University).
    

    Translocations are chromosomal abnormalities that happens when a chromosome breaks and its fragment fuses to another. The first discovered case of this occurred in 1980, with the Raina narina. Their sex chromosomes are X1Y1X2Y2 for males and X1X1X2X2 for females. The sex chromosomes for O. swinhoana for males and females are X1Y1X2Y2X3Y3 and X1X1X2X2X3X3 respectively; three translocations in males created this system of six sex chromosomes.

    The male determining gene in birds, Dmrt1, and in platypus and fish, Amh, are located on the Y1 chromosome of male O. swinhoana. Also, the therian mammals' ancestral SRY gene, Sox3, is located on the Y3 chromosome. The major sex-determining gene out of the three aforementioned ones isn't known yet. However, the discovery of these genes gives some information on the relationship between these animals. They may share a common DNA sequence.
    Their data suggests that these translocation are nonrandom. It gave them a new viewpoint on the evolution of multiple sex chromosome systems.



https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210413081357.htm

https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/taiwanese-frog-species-found-to-have-six-sex-chromosomes-347609

Advancements in Biotechnology Forward Discoveries of Regeneration in Frogs

Regeneration is a complex topic that truly involves intricate unsolved processes and is way more than just what meets the eye in beloved science fiction novels. Nevertheless, what has once seemed unattainable, has now become a plausible reality for the distant future. Researchers from the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University had created a device that is responsible for the partial hindlimb regeneration in the species Xenopus laevis. Due to this, this aquatic African frog species may now become one of the prime models for testing newly developed cell-stimulating therapies.
In order to induce tissue repair at the amputation site, a team of scientists used a 3D printer to construct a bioreactor made of silicon. This structure was then filled with a hydrogel that was laced with silk proteins and progesterone. The combination of the three produces a thick substance filled with polymers that promote healing, regeneration, and nerve and bone tissue repair. 
The researches then conducted an experiment where the bioreactor was applied to the experimental group of frogs immediately after amputation. The results of the study allowed them to conclude that frogs from the experimental group resulted in bigger and more structured appendages than those in the control group. Upon further analysis and RNA sequencing, it was reported that the application of the bioreactor at the amputation site resulted in altered gene expression of the cells in that specific area. Additionally, collected observation of the frogs revealed that those from the experimental group had swimming techniques that most closely matched frogs that did not undergo amputation.

From reading this article, it provides one with a bright outlook for the future. As a next step, the researchers plan on implementing this work within mammals as the next. In doing so, I feel as if that will give crucial information as to whether or not this experiment could truly further the path towards a more wholesome regeneration of larger structures such as entire limbs. Unfortunately, as of now many species with regenerative properties are mainly aquatic. However whether successful in mammals or not I feel as if this experiment remains beneficial for it helps forward discoveries in techniques used for cell therapy.

Resources:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181106171813.htm

Frog-Killing Chytrid Fungus Progress: Origin Found

South Korean Oriental fire-bellied toad 

Courtesy of: Frank Pasmans

Amphibians have fallen victim to a deadly skin infection, Chytridiomycosis, that can cause osmotic imbalance, organ failure, and even death since 1998. This infection has been the root cause of die-offs and extinctions of a variety of amphibian species. The origin of the fungus has been unknown, as is the cause of the fungus becoming such a threat to amphibian species. The fungus causing Chytridiomycosis is called Batrachochytrium dendronatidis. Researchers analyzed hundreds of B. dendronatidis samples from all over the world and concluded that the fungus most likely came from East Asia, originating in the beginning of the 20th century. 

Discovering the origin of  B. dendronatidis is particularly interesting, and hopefully will allow researchers to learn more about what triggers these math die-off and extinction events. Learning more about the favorable growth conditions could prevent the fungi from overtaking and claiming more amphibian lives. 

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