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Why is the liver so weirdly regenerative?

576 points · 293 comments · jbotz

  1. Aeolun · · focus · HN ↗
    I feel like this is obvious. Eventually dying of all the weird body failures doesn’t inhibit your ability to procreate, but if you cannot survive alcohol or other various poisons you’ll never make it to a fertile age.
    1. nomel · · focus · HN ↗
      Picking the wrong berry from a bush isn't so difficult. Ask me how I know. And, for my second encounter, don't think because you see an animal eating it, it's safe!
      1. colechristensen · · focus · HN ↗
        And onions are mildly toxic to cats and dogs. There is a lot less shared responses as to what is toxic or edible across species.

        Basically every flavor compound in an herb or spice we eat is a poison directed at insects, microbes, or other creatures. (much less every medicinal or psychoactive compound found in nature)

        1. hobo123 · · focus · HN ↗
          Onion compounds slow down ALDH (aldehyde detox), not sure if for cats it's a different (i.e. yet another) mechanism though.
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