Last week in the Biology forum, members delved into some intriguing discussions. A major theme surrounded the adaptability of species, with lively debates about how aphids sometimes deviate from expected behaviors. There was also a fascinating exploration of regenerative biology, particularly why axolotls can regrow limbs while humans form scars. Additionally, members discussed the latest updates on forensic genetics, focusing on the number of Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) in the CODIS database. Urban wildlife behavior also caught attention, with a look at the shifting activity patterns of foxes in city environments.
This Week’s Hot Topics
When aphids ignore the protocol
This discussion examines cases where aphids don’t follow standard behavioral patterns, sparking conversation about adaptability and environmental influences. Read more here
Why axolotls regrow but we scar
Members are exploring the fascinating differences in regenerative abilities between axolotls and humans, raising questions about potential medical applications. Read more here
How many STRs are in CODIS today
An update on the number of STRs currently in the CODIS system sparked discussion about advancements in forensic science and their implications. Read more here
Urban foxes going nocturnal
The shift in behavior of urban foxes towards nocturnality is prompting talks on urban ecology and species adaptation to human environments. Read more here
Looking forward to another engaging week of discussions. Stay curious and keep sharing your insights.
We splinted mouse skin wounds to reduce tension and saw scars shrink, which tracks with axolotls keeping inflammation low long enough to build a ‘blastema’ (good primer: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1300290110). Not just immune tone, though — nerve input and age tweak the outcome, so our built-in ‘emergency repair’ bias isn’t easy to override.
In a salamander lab rotation, we denervated limbs and the blastema stalled — ‘no nerves, no blastema’ — and reinnervation restarted growth. So beyond mechanics, axolotls lean on nerve-derived cues like nAG, which helps explain why human nail beds regrow best when innervation’s intact, though the macrophage timing still matters.
Small practical tip from the human side: keeping wounds boringly moist and quiet early on — silicone gel sheets or hydrocolloid for 2–3 weeks — consistently trims scars in my patients, which kinda echoes axolotls tamping down inflammation to form a “blastema.” , we chase fancy growth factors and forget timing; if you want a solid overview of why their ECM/immune milieu is different, the axolotl genome paper is a good start: The axolotl genome and the evolution of key tissue formation regulators | Nature. Caveat: it won’t make you regenerate, but it nudges healing away from the fibroblast stampede.
Building on @lisa_garcia87’s early-phase angle: I’ve gotten the most cosmetic mileage by treating new scars like vampires for 8–12 weeks — SPF 50 every morning, even by windows — it won’t fix texture, but it reliably prevents that lingering dark edge; you seeing the same?
I’ve had the best results keeping fresh incisions under low tension with plain 1-inch Micropore paper tape for 6–8 weeks — a $3 roll, changed every 3–4 days, kept a sternotomy line flat in my last two cases. If it starts to itch or the edges get soggy, I switch briefly to a thin silicone strip and then go back to tape; @lisa_garcia87’s early-phase focus is spot on, but this bit of “mechanics” seems to matter as much as gels.