The Next Day Thread Saturday 25 April 2009
Angel's Starfish question
PASTED FROM A GOOGLE SEARCH: I assume you asking why sometimes when one star fish leg is damaged or cut off then the animal grows back two legs rather than one.
Assuming yes then no one knows for sure but I would think that the answer lies in the mechanisms and genes the star fish has for growing back limbs. When damage occurs to a leg, that triggers a whole load of genes to be activated, that make loads of new proteins whose job it is to grow back a leg. Ocassionally when the damage is severe and right at the part where the star fish leg joins the body, then the signals get a bit confused and the star fish "thinks" it has lost 2 legs rather than one, which is why two legs grow back.
What you may also be interested to know is that the genes in the star fish that do this are very similar to those in mammals (including humans). However in mammals the function of those genes is to tell the developing embryo how and where to grow limbs whilst the foteus is developing. Sadly, they do not do the same thing in adults when the limb is damaged!
FROM PAN: I still want to find out for sure. You have given me a mission, Angel.
AND, judging by the multiple spelling errors from this supposed biologist, I don't really believe this anyway. But it has to be true doesn't it, if you find it on the internet? Bit like Daylight Saving fading your curtains logic and the cows won't know what time it is argument that we still have in Qld.
Angel's Starfish question
PASTED FROM A GOOGLE SEARCH: I assume you asking why sometimes when one star fish leg is damaged or cut off then the animal grows back two legs rather than one.
Assuming yes then no one knows for sure but I would think that the answer lies in the mechanisms and genes the star fish has for growing back limbs. When damage occurs to a leg, that triggers a whole load of genes to be activated, that make loads of new proteins whose job it is to grow back a leg. Ocassionally when the damage is severe and right at the part where the star fish leg joins the body, then the signals get a bit confused and the star fish "thinks" it has lost 2 legs rather than one, which is why two legs grow back.
What you may also be interested to know is that the genes in the star fish that do this are very similar to those in mammals (including humans). However in mammals the function of those genes is to tell the developing embryo how and where to grow limbs whilst the foteus is developing. Sadly, they do not do the same thing in adults when the limb is damaged!
FROM PAN: I still want to find out for sure. You have given me a mission, Angel.
AND, judging by the multiple spelling errors from this supposed biologist, I don't really believe this anyway. But it has to be true doesn't it, if you find it on the internet? Bit like Daylight Saving fading your curtains logic and the cows won't know what time it is argument that we still have in Qld.
enguin:
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