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503 points thunderbong | 2 comments | | HN request time: 0s | source
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dexwiz ◴[] No.42150438[source]
Wood frogs only live 3-5 years, so they probably only go through a max of 5 of these cycles. I wonder how much cellular damage they accumulate during these cycles that they can tolerate due to short lifespans. They also have ~10,000x less neurons than a mammal.

Even if you had the biochemistry that was able to do this, how many cycles could a higher life form tolerate this, assuming it would even work? Complex life seems to sacrifice some resiliency, such as the ability to regrow limbs. Amphibians already seem to be particularly adept at regeneration.

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8n4vidtmkvmk ◴[] No.42155068[source]
I don't understand why we're not allowed to regrow limbs. What did that make room for in our DNA?
replies(2): >>42155635 #>>42155959 #
macrolime ◴[] No.42155635[source]
Some animals regenerate, some form scar tissue. It's thought that scar tissue is a cheaper and faster mechanism than regrowing limbs and has thus been selected in many cases.
replies(1): >>42159860 #
1. 8n4vidtmkvmk ◴[] No.42159860[source]
If an iguana loses its tail, it doesn't just bleed until the new tail starts forming, right? Doesn't it seal up and then regrow?
replies(1): >>42163996 #
2. macrolime ◴[] No.42163996[source]
Yeah it does form a clot and a thin skin layer, but it remains somewhat like a wound much longer and is easier to hurt again than scar tissue covers up a wound quite quickly.