Literature Review Part (A): Regeneration of A Starfish!

Good day peeps! =)

Have you heard of the regeneration ability acquired by a starfish?

Let us take a look closer at this regeneration characteristic of a starfish! =)

Starfish are not fish, but rather marine invertebrates or "echinoderms" in the class Asteroidea. Therefore, scientists prefer to call them sea stars. 

There are approximately 1,800 different species of Asteroidea. They are known for their ability to regenerate amputated limbs and are characterized by flexible arms attached to a central disc. 

The central disc is essential to regeneration in nearly all sea star species.

In general, starfish regenerate by way of a three-stage process. 


Firstly, the repair stage heals the creature’s exposed wound. 

This phase is followed by the regenerative stage, in which the body of the echinoderm produces new cells and begins new growth.

The final phase is referred to as the advanced regenerative stage, during which significant cell proliferation starts. Regeneration can take anywhere from several months to years. Growth factors, which are neurally derived, determine the processes responsible for the formation of patterns during the last stage. 

If anything intervenes or causes a deviation from such patterns while the sea star is regenerating, then the end result will be probably deformed. The figure below shows the regeneration of starfishes.

Central disc - Most species of sea stars must split part of their central disc along with a limb for regeneration to occur. It is very unlikely that a severed limb will be able to regenerate into a full-grown starfish unless it is already attached to at least a portion of the central disc. 

Please watch the ffollowing video to understand better the regeneration of a starfish!

Isn't it amazing that a starfish could regenerate back it's amputated/lost limb! Such a cool characteristic!

That's all for today! =)

STARFISH, lighting the way to biomimicry!

Till' next time! =)