Changes in bioelectric signals trigger formation of new organs
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - 19:30
in Biology & Nature
For the first time, scientists have altered natural bioelectrical communication among cells to directly specify the type of new organ to be created at a particular location within a vertebrate organism. Using genetic manipulation of membrane voltage in Xenopus (frog) embryos, biologists were able to cause tadpoles to grow eyes outside of the head area.