University of Pittsburgh Department of Biological Sciences presents:
2019 Spring Seminar Series
Dr. Tom Lozito
University of Southern California
“Lizard Tail Regeneration As An Instructive Model of Enhanced Healing Capabilities In An Adult Amniote”
The ability to regenerate damaged or lost tissues has remained the lofty goal of regenerative medicine. Unfortunately, humans, like most mammals, suffer from very minimal natural regenerative capabilities. Certain non-mammalian animal species, however, are not so limited in their healing capabilities, and several have attracted the attention of researchers hoping to recreate enhanced healing responses in humans. My research focuses on one such animal group with remarkable regenerative abilities, the lizards. As the closest relatives of mammals that exhibit enhanced regenerative abilities as adults, lizards potentially represent the most relevant model for direct comparison and subsequent improvement of mammalian healing. Lizards are able to regenerate amputated tails, and exhibit adaptations that both limit tissue damage in response to injury and initiate coordinated regenerative responses. My presentation summarizes the salient aspects of lizard tail regeneration as they relate to the overall regenerative process, and also presents the relevant information pertaining to regrowth of specific tissues, including skeletal, muscular, nervous, and vascular tissues. The goal of this talk is to introduce the topic of lizard tail regeneration to new audiences with the hope of expanding the knowledge base of this under-utilized but potentially powerful model organism.
Monday, April 8, 2019
169 Crawford Hall
11:00 A.M.
10:50 A.M. refreshments
Host: Dr. Burhan Gharaibeh