Path followed:
- Is the fault in the components that perform any physical action?
Answer: Yes
- Is the fault in components that move?
Answer: Yes
- Is the fault in components that make the mechanism move?
Answer: Yes
- Is the faulty component designed to move the mechanism around?
Answer: Yes
- Is the faulty component needed for stability?
Answer: Yes
- Does the faulty component manipulate smaller objects?
Answer: Yes
- Does the surrounding environment affect the process of regeneration?
Answer: Yes
42) Antarctic brittle star, Ophionotus victoriae
Antarctic brittle stars can be found around the continent of Antarctica (Fratt & Dearborn). They are known to have 5 arms that they use to walk around on and catch its prey with. Antarctic brittle stars have the ability of regenerating a lost or damaged arm.
Shortly after the arm is damaged or amputated a blastema is formed over the wound comprised of stem cells that migrated to the wound. The stem cells undergo prolific replication and gene expression is activated. The genes help differentiate the newly replicated cells into structural proteins and segmentation (Burns et al.). The cells will become the new tissue, muscle, and organs in the newly formed arm. The genes also control the energy needed to regenerate the arm and controlling the stem cells so that once the arm is completely regenerated they stop replicating (Burns et al.). The genes are thought be controlled by Wnt/beta-catenin pathway and TGF beta signaling pathways (Burns et al.). The overall regeneration process starts immediately after the injury but due to the extremely cold waters the animal delays the onset of regeneration of around 5 months (Burns et al.).
Fratt, and Dearborn. “Ophionotus Victoriae Bell, 1902.” Ophionotus Victoriae. Antarctic Field Guide, 1984. Web. 4 Dec. 2014.
http://afg.biodiversity.aq/species/89-ophionotus-victoriae
Burns, G., M. C. Thorndyke, and M. S. Clark. “Transcriptome Pyrosequencing of the Antarctic Brittle Star Ophionotus Victoriae.” Marine Genomics 9 (2013): 9-15. NCBI. Web. 4 Dec. 2014.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23904059