Tadpoles of closely related frog species Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis exhibit varying capacities of regenerative success depending on their developmental stage and structure type, making them an excellent model for tissue regeneration. Previous work from the Wills lab shows that a metabolic pathway called the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is required for tail regeneration in young X. tropicalis tadpoles. With support from the ISCRMU fellowship, Madhavi will investigate whether the PPP is required for development or appendage regeneration in older tadpoles in both Xenopus species.
