| Regeneration is the reiteration of processes from embryonic development to repair or replace damaged or lost tissues or structures in an adult organisms. Different organisms have varying capacities to regenerate. Plants and primitive organisms are able to regenerate a complete organism from a fractionally small component. Mammals, in contrast, are only able to replace specific types of cells in a tissue-specific manner. The manner in which regeneration is initiated and accomplished in mammals is a matter of significant medical relevance. Additionally, the mechanistic discrepancies in the initiation of regeneration among more primitive animals which allow for the enhanced regenerative capacity of these organisms are, not only of basic scientific interest, but also of clinical value. In this thesis, I have examined gene expression, in the regenerating limb of the newt, Notopthalmus viridiscens, and in the hematopoietic stem cells of mammalian bone marrow with the intention of understanding how regenerative processes are, broadly speaking, initiated and how the nature of the initiation of regeneration impacts on the extent that regeneration can occur. |
