Gene boost for healing humans

HUMANS and other mammals may have a dormant ability to regenerate parts of their body in the same way as hydra, flatworms and newts, new research suggests.

A gene, p21, may hold the key to spontaneous healing. In laboratory experiments, mice engineered to lack the gene were able to renew surgically removed tissue so no trace of injury remained.

The US research could pave the way to new scar-free healing treatments for humans, scientists say.

Study leader Professor Ellen Heber-Katz said: "Much like a newt that has lost a limb, these mice will replace missing or damaged tissue with healthy tissue. While we are just beginning to understand the repercussions, perhaps one day we'll be able to accelerate healing in humans by tem-porarily inactivating the p21 gene."