Writers will know that inspiration can come from the strangest places. Earlier this week I came across a Twitter thread from “Dr Esther @EstOdek” who was amusingly upset (I think that’s an oxymoron) that she learned, too late for her PhD on starfish, that The Hulk’s dad investigated the genetic basis of regeneration in starfish.
That particular piece of Marvel trivia didn’t inspire a post on starfish and how they regenerate new limbs – although it is pretty cool and amphibians do it too, but it did have me searching for the last time I wrote about regenerative medicine in films. (If you like animals more than movies, I give you reindeer who regenerate, domesticated cats birthing their endangered species cousins and animals as living incubators for human tissue – a topic Signals has covered several times in different ways.)
As it turns out, it’s been over six years since I wrote about television programs and movies featuring or including stem cells in the story line (not including a Rampage post and one about Henrietta Lacks). While I realize that the lazy, hazy days of summer may not be everyone’s idea of the right time to hunker down and watch movies, if you are cottage bound and the weather turns miserable…or if we never get a hot summer this year….
Here are some new entries for our movie database. Knowing how popular medical science has always been as movie subject matter, no doubt I’ll be updating my list in the future. If you know of any movies that have characters who can regenerate tissues and muscles like Wolverine or there is a movie that features gene editing, 3D printing new skin, body parts or organs, cloning – the list goes on – please leave a comment below!
Groot – Guardians of the Galaxy
Wade Wilson/Deadpool, the poster child of regenerative medicine, will be back for his third go-round sometime in the future. Until then, he is joining the cast of X-Force, but that movie doesn’t have a release date either. In the meantime, you may have to satisfy yourself with this fan made trailer for Deadpool 3 (viewer discretion is advised!).
Stacey Johnson
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