Heads or Tails: Cells' Electricity Decides
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 - 10:05
in Biology & Nature
Scientists have found that specific changes in cell membrane voltage and ion flow are key in determining if an organism regenerates a head or a tail. It was known that bioelectric signals can trigger the regeneration process, but no one had shown that these signals determine which part regenerates. This technique uses pharmacology to change voltage and does not rely on gene therapy.