The amazing and anomalous axolotls as scientific models

Axolotls, or Ambystoma mexicanum, are unique amphibians studied for their developmental and regenerative capabilities. They retain juvenile traits into adulthood and can regenerate most tissues. While axolotls were initially used in developmental biology, organisms with sequenced genomes became more popular. The recent sequencing of the axolotl genome is renewing interest in their regenerative abilities. Modern axolotl research employs advanced techniques like transgenesis and high-resolution imaging to study regeneration mechanisms. Axolotls are pop culture icons featured in video games, cartoons, and social media, raising their profile and impact.

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  Axolotls exhibit scarless wound healing and have a lower incidence of cancer, making them valuable for cell plasticity studies.
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  Single-cell sequencing atlases of axolotl limb regeneration have identified that connective tissue cells revert to embryonic profiles and that this process is paired with changes in the immune response in lineage-specific and unbiased cell populations.
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  Axolotl neural crest cells have different potentials depending on where they originate in the anterior–posterior axis, similar to chicken embryos.