Soon humans may be able to regrow parts of their body, in the same way some amphibians do, if the breakthrough research by an Indian-origin Kiwi scientist results positively.  

 According to reports of Stuff.co.nz., Vishal Bhasin, a former Wellingtonian, has spent the past six years in Sydney researching tissue regeneration.

"I''ve already managed to turn [skin] cells into fat cells and bone cells. The next step is to engineer those cells into complex three-dimensional structures," said Bhasin.

The key lies in discovering a way to prompt cells near a wound to grow new tissue, rather than scar tissue, feels the expert.

When a salamander loses a limb, the cells near the wound turn into "progenitor" cells, which are similar to stem cells. These multiply and form into the different types of cells needed to grow a replacement limb, such as bone, skin and tissue. Human cells cannot turn back into progenitor cells, so instead scar tissue forms over the wound.

 
36 years old Dr Bhasin said "There was some pathway there that they were able to switch on that we can''t. There''s a worldwide race to find this pathway. The breakthrough, when it happens, is going to transform medicine." (With Input from Agencies)