The heart is a pump that is comprised of cardiac myocytes and other cell types and whose
proper function is critical to quality of life. The ability to trigger regeneration of heart muscle
following injury eludes adult mammals, a deficiency of great clinical impact. Major research
efforts are attempting to change this through advances in cell therapy or activating
endogenous regenerative mechanisms that exist only early in life. In contrast with mammals,
lower vertebrates like zebrafish demonstrate an impressive natural capacity for cardiac …