In the process of looking for something else entirely, a Harvard researcher is fairly certain he’s stumbled across a gene that makes self-healing possible.

In the process of identifying different test mice, a Harvard researcher at Children’s Hospital Boston is fairly certain he’s stumbled across a gene that makes self-healing possible.

At this time, he’s only seen it at work in mice, but believes it could be a major step in discovering ways to do the job in humans.

The discovery happened when he was trying to mark young mice he was using in an experiment by clipping their ears and toes.

He was both frustrated and fascinated when after a few days, the removed parts grew back.

The cause was narrowed down to a genetic modification that kept the gene responsible for in-womb growth locked in the on position after birth.

It works by duping the body into thinking it’s younger than it is.

To date, the inability of most animals to self-heal and regenerate limbs has in part been linked to slow metabolisms.

By making the body believe it’s not as old as it is, the metabolism is boosted and an energy-releasing chemical chain reaction occurs.

That process has been associated with the body’s natural ability to heal.

The finding doesn’t promise regeneration for people, but it does provide a promising research direction.