Variation in Salamander Tail Regeneration Is Associated with Genetic Factors That Determine Tail Morphology

The study investigates the genetic factors influencing tail regeneration in salamanders, specifically focusing on how tail morphology affects the amount of tissue regenerated. By analyzing a hybrid population of salamanders, the researchers aimed to identify genes and physical traits that contribute to variations in regenerative outgrowth. The experiment involved amputating the tails of salamanders twice and measuring the regenerated tissue. Genetic markers were used to identify regions in the genome associated with tail morphology and regeneration. The researchers found that tail width significantly impacts the amount of regenerated tissue. The study highlights that genetic factors influencing tail morphology, such as the sex-determining locus, indirectly affect the rate of tail regeneration. The width of the tail at the amputation site is a key determinant of how much tissue regrows, resolving a question about the relationship between tail shape and regenerative capacity.

• 1
  Tail width at the amputation plane largely determines the rate of regenerative outgrowth in salamanders.
• 2
  Genetic factors, including the sex-determining locus (ambysex), explain variation in tail length and width.
• 3
  Approximately 66–68% of the variation in regenerative outgrowth was explained by tail width.