Path followed:
1. Is the fault in the components that perform any physical action?
Answer: No
2. Is the faulty component part of the mechanism’s body?
Answer: Yes
3. Is the faulty component in the structure of the mechanism?
Answer: No
4. Does the damaged component provide protection?
Answer: No
5. Is the surrounding structure damaged?
Answer: Yes
39) Percival’s Spiny mouse, Acomys percivali
Percival’s Spiny mice are found in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda (Dieterlen & Schlitter). They are herbivores and live in areas where there is little population so they don’t have a lot of predators. Percival’s Spiny mice have the ability of regenerating skin, hair follicles, and tissue after it is ripped off through autonomy or damaged.
Soon after the injury hemostasis would stop the wound from bleeding and a scab would form. Epithelial cells would dedifferentiate and migrate to the wound site. After migrating the cells would re-differentiate and use contractions of the skin to continue to heal the wound (Seifert et al.). It was also found that collagen fibrils from the extracellular matrix would create a porous structure (Seifert et al.). This porous structure allowed for a scar-free wound and clear regeneration instead of just healing. The hair follicles of the mouse can also regenerate by using highly prolific epidermal cells and Wnt signaling to form the follicles.
Dieterlen, F. & Schlitter, D. 2008. Acomys percivali. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/272/0
Seifert, Ashley W., Stephen G. Kiama, Megan G. Seifert, Jacob R. Goheen, Todd M. Palmer, and Malcolm Maden. “Skin Shedding and Tissue Regeneration in African Spiny Mice (Acomys).” Nature 489.7417 (2012): 561-65. NCBI. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.
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