Spinal cord repair genes shared by lampreys and mammals

A collaborative study led by the Marine Biological Laboratory (MA, USA) has identified molecular pathways involved in spinal cord repair that are common to both lampreys and mammals. The discovery provides new hope for future methods to improve spinal cord injury treatments. Lampreys are evolutionarily ancient fish that have long been studied for their ability to regenerate neurones, most notably, being able to go from paralysis to full swimming behaviors within 10–12 weeks. “Scientists have known for many years that the lamprey achieves spontaneous recovery from spinal cord injury, but we have not known the molecular recipe that accompanies and...