According to the origin story told in Deadpool, mercenary Wade Wilson volunteers to be a guinea pig in lab experiments that he believes will cure his cancer. Instead, he gains an ability to regenerate. This mimics the impressive regenerative powers of salamanders, amphibians such as newts and axolotl that can regrow legs from stumps and even replace vital organs like the heart or spinal cord.

Regeneration is possible thanks to stem cells, which have the potential to multiply and develop into any tissue — everything from blood vessels to brain cells. When the body’s outer layer is damaged, it forms a ‘wound epidermis’ that then releases growth factors that prompt cells to change their behavior.

More Info: www.forbes.com