Ambystomology (AXOLOTLS… AND LIMB REGROWTH?) with Jessica Whited

Feathery gills! Adorable smiles! Cultural icons! Habitat ecology! And superhuman limb regeneration? It’s an entire episode on axolotls. You either love these aquatic salamanders, or you’ve never heard of them. Clap your tiny slimy hands for Ambystomologist Dr. Jessica Whited of Harvard Medical School’s Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology who raises and studies these beautiful creatures — including the biomedical marvels being discovered. Also discussed: their narrow niche, the ecology movement to save them from wild endangerment, pet care ethics, color morphs, green glowing genetically modified ones and so much more. And of course: Minecraft. Follow Jessica on Instagram Visit the Whited Lab and browse Dr. Whited’s papers on ResearchGate Pre-order her children’s book: Axolotl (Young Zoologist): A First Field Guide to the Amphibian That Never Grows Up (October 1, 2024) A donation went to ADOPTAXOLTL via Instituto de Biologia de la UNAM More episode sources and links Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes Other episodes you may enjoy: Stem Cell Biology (CELLS MAKING CELLS), Molecular Biology (PROTEINS), Evolutionary Biology (DARWINISM), Bufology (TOADS), Dipterology (FLIES), Diplopodology (MILLIPEDES & CENTIPEDES), Planariology (VERY COOL WORMS, I PROMISE) Sponsors of Ologies Transcripts and bleeped episodes Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes! Follow @Ologies on Instagram and X Follow @AlieWard on Instagram and X Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jacob Chaffee Managing Director: Susan Hale Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth Transcripts by Aveline Malek  Website by Kelly R. Dwyer Theme song by Nick Thorburn