Regenerating Regeneration: New Perspectives on an Old Field

Bruce M. Carlson

Institute of Gerontology
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Regeneration is an old scientific field that had its beginnings early in the eighteenth century. Over the past three centuries the position of regeneration has ranged from being a thought leader in biology to almost invisible. This talk will present a broad-ranging view of the field, stressing how over the years the field of regeneration has influenced and been influenced by major thought currents in biology and how progress in the field has been limited by or facilitated by the technologies of the times. The talk will end by summarizing the role that regeneration might play in the biology and medicine of the future.