---
title: "A New Cocktail of Proteins Makes Mice Regenerate Toes Like Lizards"
description: "New research that grew new mouse toes took an important step towards the ability to regenerate mammalian limbs after amputation."
date: "2019-02-08"
modified: "2019-02-08"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/mice-regenerate-toes-lizards"
categories:
  - "Biology"
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "biology"
  - "medicine"
  - "regenerative medicine"
---

# A New Cocktail of Proteins Makes Mice Regenerate Toes Like Lizards

![New research that grew new mouse toes took an important step towards the ability to regenerate mammalian limbs after amputation.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/mice-regenerate-toes-lizards.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Alexas\_Fotos/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## We Can Rebuild Him

For the first time, scientists have figured out how to regrow not just the bone but even the joints of a mouse's amputated toes.

Normally mammals like mice don't regenerate body parts — meaning the new development could help lead to futuristic medical procedures in which amputees are able to grow back their missing limbs.

## Expanding Reach

Thanks to a cocktail of proteins that stimulate regeneration, lab mice grew back a greater portion of their amputated toes than was possible in past experiments, [according to *New Scientist*](<https://www.newscientist.com/article/2192819-mouse-toes-partially-regrown-after-amputation-thanks-to-two-proteins/>).

Biologists from Texas A&M University amputated the toes of mice and then treated them with two specific proteins, BMP2 and BMP9. The proteins triggered their bodies to grow back missing bones and, in a medical first, the cartilage necessary to support the joints of their toes, [according to research](<https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-08278-4>) published Tuesday in the journal *Nature Communications*. Just three days after treatment, more than 60 percent of the new bones had a layer of cartilage covering them.

"Our study is transformational," lead researcher Ken Muneoka told *New Scientist*.

In his view, the research suggests that animals that don't regrow limbs, like mice, could someday do so as easily as those that do, [like lizards](<https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/can-lizards-teach-us-how-regrow-lost-limbs>).

"They can do it, they just don't do it," Muneoka told *New Scientist*. "So, we have to figure out what's constraining them."

## First Steps

The mice used in the A&M study didn't grow back complete toes, but they did get closer to a completed digit than past experiments, which only grew out some of the missing bones.

Even if they had fully regenerated their toes, there's a long road between research showing that a protein can regenerate cartilage and the point at which that protein could be used to [grow back a human limb](<https://futurism.com/neoscope/scientists-have-uncovered-a-way-to-regenerate-human-bone-and-tissue>).

All the same, clinical research has to start somewhere. If these findings hold up, we may someday find ourselves with a new way to treat amputees.

**READ MORE:** [Mouse toes partially regrown after amputation thanks to two proteins](<https://www.newscientist.com/article/2192819-mouse-toes-partially-regrown-after-amputation-thanks-to-two-proteins/>) \[*New Scientist*\]

***More on regenerative medicine: [Neural Stem Cells Grown From Blood Could Revolutionize Medicine](<https://futurism.com/neoscope/neural-stem-cells-blood-medicine>)***

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)