Frogs and Tadpoles (Xenopus laevis)

The African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) is a species of aquatic frog that plays an important role in biological research. In our lab, we care for several hundred frog tadpoles (larval stages of frogs) at different stages of life.

The frog tadpoles live in carefully maintained aquatic tanks with clean, temperature-controlled water and regular feeding. Their eggs are fertilized outside the body, which allows scientists to collect them easily and observe their development from the very beginning. These eggs are large and sturdy, making them especially useful for experiments.

One reason Xenopus is such a valuable model is that, unlike most vertebrates, their tadpoles can regenerate lost limbs. This ability fades as they mature, giving researchers a rare opportunity to study both how regeneration works and why it stops. Because frogs share many developmental programs with mammals, the insights we gain from them could help inform new strategies for promoting healing and tissue repair in humans.