ABSTRACT Although the remarkable ability of organisms like the sea-stars, crayfishes, salamanders, or hydras to regrow damaged or lost body parts is very real, regeneration in humans is limited, and its potential is only fully realized in science fiction. In this review, we attempt to bring together our current knowledge of the mechanisms of regeneration in different organisms and its applications, the possible underlying causes of the low complex-regeneration capacity of mammals both from cellular and evolutionary perspectives, and exciting findings and hypotheses that may keep the hopes of transforming the fictional power of regeneration of superheroes to a reality for humans alive.
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