This is a companion to Episode 14 on Regeneration. We talk about the Deadpool and Wolverine movie, calcifications about plant regenerations, updates on bioelectricity research, and is Groot a plant?

Welcome to the Footnotes, B-sides, or mini-episode Show notes: That’s right just like the main event, the mini episode, also has show notes. Curated with time stamps, you’ll find exposition and links to help you explore topics on your own. Have fun!

Haven’t listened to the mini-episode yet, check it out here:

Episode 14.1 the b-side—clarifications and more Regeneration Insights

And if you didn’t listen to the main Episode 14 check it out here:

Episode 14: Exploring Regeneration from Wolverine and Deadpool to Actual Factual Science

The Episode 14.1 b-side Show Notes:

00:00 Welcome to the Rabbit Hole of Research

01:11 What’s with this Mini-episode?

01:47 Movie Review: Deadpool and Wolverine

• First official Rabbit Hole of Research thumbs up!
• As you can imagine this is not a superhero movie for children (here is a parent’s guide)

05:00 Plant Regeneration Expanded and Clarified

• Can a tree regenerate after being cut down?
  • Several tree species have the ability to regenerate after being cut down through a process known as coppicing. This natural adaptation allows trees to regrow from their roots or stumps after the main stem has been removed. 
  • Coppicing involves the tree’s root system sending up new shoots from the base or roots after the main stem has been removed. However, the regrowth ability and vigor can vary among species and depend on factors such as the tree’s health, environmental conditions, and the cutting method used.
• A stem stuck in the ground can often regenerate a root system through a process called vegetative propagation.
  • This method of plant reproduction allows new plants to grow from parts of existing plants, such as stems, rather than from seeds.
  • Many plants have the ability to produce adventitious roots – roots that grow from plant parts other than the normal root system. When a stem cutting is placed in soil, it can develop these adventitious roots from the cut end or from nodes along the stem.
  • Plant hormones, like auxins, environmental factors such as moisture, temperature, and light also influence the success of root regeneration.
  • This method of propagation is widely used in horticulture and gardening to create new plants from existing ones.

07:31 Bioelectricity and Regenerating from a “Sack of Bloody Skin Ball”

• BIOELECTRICITY
  • Bioelectricity plays a crucial role in regeneration by using electrical signals to guide cellular behavior and tissue formation. These signals involve ion flows and voltage gradients that regulate gene expression and cell activity, essential for both development and repair of tissues. Studies have shown that manipulating bioelectric signals can induce regeneration in species that typically do not regenerate, such as certain amphibians and potentially mammals. This approach, which integrates bioelectric cues with genetic and pharmacological interventions, holds promise for advancing regenerative medicine and treating injuries and birth defects.
• MORE TO CHECK OUT ON BIOELECTRICITY:
  • Check out Dr. Michael Levin, Tufts Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology and his research on this exciting area of using bioelectricity for regenerative health.
  • a. Another fascinating paper from Dr. Levin’s group. Bioelectric Signaling in Regeneration: Mechanisms of Ionic Controls …
  • Persuading the Body to Regenerate Its Limbs – The New Yorker
• More about Planaria
  • Planaria are free living flatworms found in freshwater. They are a popular model organism for studying regeneration and bioelectricity due to their remarkable ability to regenerate entire body parts, including their brain. They can regenerate even after being cut into 279 pieces. Research has shown that bioelectric signals play a crucial role in planarian regeneration.
  • These studies show that bioelectric gradients help guide the formation of new head or tail structures. Manipulation of ion channels and voltage gradients can alter regeneration outcomes in planaria, such as inducing the growth of additional heads. And, Studies on planaria have revealed that bioelectric networks can store and process information about body patterning, acting as a kind of “memory” for anatomical structure.
  • By using a simpler model organism, like planaria, to understanding regeneration mechanisms this will allow researchers to potentially develop regenerative therapies in more complex organisms, including humans.

11:16 Deadpool and Wolverine movie calorie count for all this regeneration

• Calories in SPAM 180 calories/can
• Calories in bottle of whiskey ~1600

12:04 Voldemort’s Regeneration

• VOLDEMORT REGENERATION PROCESS: FANDOM WIKI

14:19 Wrapping Up and Future Topics

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Okay, that’s it for this episode. How’d we do?

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