Axolotl Coloring Sheet

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How Does an Axolotl Regrow Body Parts?

Axolotls are a type of salamander that stay in water their entire lives. They are eye catchers with frilly gills and fin-like tails, and God designed them with an amazing ability to regrow body parts.

What Does “Regenerate” Mean?

Regenerate means to grow back or be made new after something is hurt, lost, or broken. Starfish can regrow arms, and some lizards can regrow tails. Axolotls get first prize for regeneration. God designed them to regrow parts of their vital organs, including parts of the brain and heart, when those organs are damaged. They cannot grow an entire new brain or heart, but they can regrow parts of them.

Scientists are amazed by this ability and study it to see how this design might help humans heal from injuries more quickly.

A Closer Look at the Regeneration “Instructions”

Every living thing is made of tiny cells. Inside those cells are instructions called DNA. DNA gets copied into RNA, which helps build new cells for things like bone, skin, and organs.

There is a helpful way to think about it:

• DNA holds the master instructions
• RNA is the copy that helps build new cells

Axolotls appear to have a special advantage. Research suggests that they store many RNA instructions, like a treasure chest ready to build new cells when needed.

The Extra Sensitive Switch: mTOR

Inside cells are tiny on and off switches called mTOR. An mTOR is a small control switch that tells cells when to grow, make, and repair.

In many animals and in humans, this switch usually turns on when there is plenty of food and energy. In axolotls, the mTOR switch is extra sensitive. When an axolotl is injured, the switch flips on right away. Once mTOR turns on, it tells cells to quickly use all those stored up RNA instructions to build new cells, which helps them quickly rebuild body parts.

Why Axolotl Regeneration Is So Remarkable

Axolotls can regrow limbs and repair parts of vital organs because their bodies are prepared with stored RNA instructions and a sensitive mTOR switch that turns on quickly after injury. Their cells receive a clear message to grow, make, and repair, and the building plans are already waiting.

God’s designs are very smart. Axolotls are designed to regrow body parts using tiny switches and stored instructions in their cells, and it is a gift to see how wonderfully they are made.

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