In a first, scientists have discovered the cells that allow geckos to regenerate their tails, a finding that may pave the way for new therapies which can coax human spinal cord injuries to repair themselves.
Many lizards can detach a portion of their tail to avoid a predator and then regenerate a new one. Unlike mammals, the lizard tail includes a spinal cord.
Researchers found that the spinal cord of the tail contained a large number of stem cells — which are capable of growing into different types of cells — and proteins known to support their growth.
Geckos can re-grow a new tail within 30 days, faster than any other type of lizard. In the wild, they detach their tails when grabbed by a predator.