1 4804 /en/todai-research/research-highlights/sometimes-bigger-is-better-than-more/ /cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/liver-regeneration-moreau-prometheus_slider_250_155.jpg /cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/liver-regeneration-moreau-prometheus_slider_92_57.jpg Prometheus, Gustave Moreau. (Wikimedia Commons)In Greek mythology, Prometheus gave fire to humankind, for which he was punished by Zeus. Chained to a rock, an eagle pecked out his liver every day, only for it to grow back every night. But it would be surprising if the ancient Greeks were aware of the liver’s regenerative power. The liver has a very high capacity for regeneration: a mouse liver recovers its original weight and function even after resection (surgical removal) of 70% of the organ. Conventional theory held that this phenomenal ability was achieved by the division of hepatocytes (liver cells), which account for a large part of the liver. However, there was no direct evidence to support this hypothesis. A research group at the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Molecular...Academic Information]]>