How Some Animals Regrow Limbs

Losing a limb is permanent for most animals—but not all. Animals like lizards,

salamanders, and starfish can regenerate lost body parts. When a limb is lost,

cells near the wound don’t just heal—they reprogram themselves. They form a structure called a blastema,

made of flexible, stem-cell-like cells. These cells divide, specialize, and rebuild bone,

muscle, nerves, and skin in the correct order. Humans can heal

wounds, but we don’t reactivate this full regeneration program. Scientists study

these animals to understand how regeneration evolved—and whether similar pathways could one day be

triggered in humans.