1. Is the fault in the components that perform any physical action?
Answer: Yes
2. Is the fault in components that move?
Answer: No
3. Is the fault in the mechanisms controls?
Answer: No
4. Does the faulty component responsible for visual data acquisition?
Answer: Yes
5. Is the faulty component only a part of the optics system?
Answer: Yes
6. Does the faulty component focus the sensory data?
Answer: Yes
7. Is the component only partially damaged?
Answer: Yes
87) African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis
African clawed frogs can be found in South Africa, Namibia, and Angola (Garvey). These creatures do not have a moveable eyelid but rather a horny, transparent covering that protects their eye from harm. African clawed frog larvae are able to regenerate their lens in the eye if the covering is injured or not fully developed.
Lens regeneration is controlled by trans-differentiation of the cells in the cornea. There are certain factors that help stimulate and control differentiation and they are able to accumulate in the vitreous chamber once the lens has been damaged. Once factor, FGF-1, can be found inducing trans-differentiation of the pigment epithelial cells (Rio-Tsonis & Tsonis). Once the cells have been dedifferentiated from the cornea they re-differentiate into lens cells. FGF-1 will stop the trans-differentiation process once the lens has been completely restored.
Garvey, Nathan. “African Clawed Frog.” ADW: Xenopus Laevis: INFO. Animal Diversity Web, 4 Oct. 2000. Web. 20 Dec. 2014.
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Africanclawedfrog.cfm
Rio-Tsonis, Katia Del, and Panagiotis A. Tsonis. “Eye Regeneration at the Molecular Age.” Developmental Dynamics 226 (2003): 211-24. Miami University. Web. 20 Dec. 2014.
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