It is said that a mystical underwater animal helps conquer death. The axolotl, which American biochemist Elly Tanaka closely examines in her specially equipped laboratory in Vienna-Landstrasse – far away from the exotic homeland of the aquatic animal – is a miraculous creature.
The Mexican tailed amphibian resembles both a newt and a salamander and also has the characteristics of a tadpole. This is because it remains in the larvae stage throughout its life, but still becomes sexually mature. This phenomenon is called neoteny.
The name axolotl comes from the Aztecs and means something like ‘water monster’. The animal, up to 25 centimeters long, is completely peaceful.
To the left and right of the neck are cute gill appendages, which in some species have a striking color and resemble small trees.
The head of the Institute for Molecular Biology of the Academy of Sciences, who was appointed on April 1, also came to know the little ‘smilers’ as a true wonder animal.
Because their 1,500 adult axolotls and several hundred babies are world champions of regeneration. If his leg is bitten off, teeth sink into his spinal cord, or parts of his brain are removed, the lost body parts or organs grow back – as an exact copy!
And all this in just a few weeks, without leaving a single scar. But Tanaka does not harm her protégés: research is being done into pure cell cultures of the salamander. What her team attaches great importance to in deciphering the phenomenon of eternal life: all axolotls in their care are kept in a manner appropriate to the species.
Mark Perry, Oliver Papacek
Source: Krone
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