!

11310386

Regeneration in Planarian

Regeneration in Planarian
Introduction
A planarian is one of many non-parasitic flatworm of the Turbellaria class. Some planarians
exhibit an extraordinary ability to regenerate lost body parts. Some planarian species have two
eye-spots. The eye-spots act as photoreceptors and are used to move away from light sources.
Planarian have three germ layers(ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm), and are acoelomate.
They have a single-opening digestive tract; in Tricladida planarians this consists of one anterior
branch and two posterior branches. Planarians move by beating cilia on the ventral dermis,
allowing them to glide along on a film of mucus. Some also may move by undulations of the
whole body by the contractions of muscles built into the body membrane.

Materials
Stereoscope (Nikon C-DSLS), Hand lenses (SIYOO-SY61009), Petri dish with frozen water,
Knife, Tweezers, Droppers, Filter papers, Planarian, Internal organs of mouse, Water

Methods
1.Learn about planarian
1) Use hand lenses to observe planarian
2) Identify features of planarian
3) Find connections between different aspects of Planarians biology
2. Exploring regeneration in Planarians by cutting a planarian
A. Observe the changes after cutting a planarian
1) Place the planarian in wet filter paper placed on top of a bed of ice
in a petri dish
Fig.1 Cutting Planarian cutting in bisection
2) Cut the planarian into two pieces as the Fig.1
3) Use a dropper to dislodge the planarian off the filter paper and into
the labeled petri dish. Fill the petri dish about half full with water
4) Observe around the cut
B. Observing regeneration over time
There are some Planarians that were trisected as shown in Fig.2 at different time
points after the cut. Observe and make notes about the changes in color and the
progression of the regenerating parts.
3. Making hypothesis on cutting
Discuss which of the cuts illustrated will result in new planarian. Check
1/4

Fig.2 Cutting Planarian in trisection

the experiment result using video that shows the outcome of such an experiment.

Results
1. Learn about Planarian
From Fig.3 and information in the lab manual and internet, we can make Data Table 1.
Data Table 1 Observe the features of planarian
Color

Mustard (Many colors in nature)

Shape

Leaf-shaped body, spade- shaped head, pointed tail

Movement

Undulating motion swimming or creeping

Length

About 6mm(Usually 3 to15 mm in nature)

Symmetry

Bilateral symmetry

Visible body parts

Eyespots, head, tail

Responses to light

Moving away from light source

Feeding habits

Carnivorous

Habitat

Living free in fresh water at cool dark place

Reproduction

Sexual or asexual reproduction

2. Exploring regeneration in Planarians by cutting a planarian

A. Observe the changes after cutting a planarian
Observation around the cut: First we observed some white floccule flowing out of the edge
after cutting. They are some internal organ of mouse which was eaten by the planarian before
we cut it. The cross-section is concave whose color is deeper than bodys. Each part after
cutting can move normally. Even the part without head can still move forward normally as
before.
B. Observe regeneration over time
Data Table 2 Observation of the regenerate over time
Time

Observations around the cut

2hr

The cross-section is concave and its color is deeper than bodys

1 day

The cross-section has grown a little and its color becomes light

2 days

The cross-section continue to grow and its color is the same as bodys

3 days

New head or tail has appeared. We can find two some black dots on the head which
may be the eyespot

9 days

The size of new head including the eyespot on it or tail is almost the same to a
normal planarian.

2/4

3. Making hypothesis on cutting

Data Table 3 Hypothesis on Planarian Regeneration and Reason
A

Hypothesis: Three new planarian will occur.

Because each part of planarian will re-grow a
new head or tail and become a new planarian.
Experimental Result: Support the hypothesis

Hypothesis: Two new planarians will occur.

Because the lift part will re-grow its new right
part. So dose the right part.
Experimental Result: Support the hypothesis

Hypothesis: A new planarian with two head will

occur. Because each part of the head after
cutting will re-grow to a new head. And they are
connected to the same body.
Experimental Result: Support the hypothesis

Hypothesis: A new planarian with two tails will

occur. Because each part of the tail will re-grow
to a new tail. And they connect to the same
body.
Experimental Result: Support the hypothesis

Discussion
1. Why can planarian regenerate but we cannot? Why do you think some animals can
regenerate but others cannot?
The cells of early human embryos is totipotent. Because of the cellular differentiation, many
cells of a adult human is unipotent, except some stem cells, which can only differentiate into
specialized cells. So human cannot regenerate like planarian. But human can regenerate
some blood and muscle. In my opinion, cellular differentiation lower cell totipotency. In
general, lower animals have higher cell totipotency. So, lower animals can regenerate their
organs and any part of their body. But higher animals can only regenerate some tissue like
blood and muscle.
2. Is a planarian immortal? Does it age?
If a planaria live in a suitable environment with enough food and space, it will be immortal
and wont age. Because planarians can make asexual reproduction, which means half of
body will re-grow with new cells over and over again.
3. How might planaria be useful for medical research?
Planarian has supreme regenerate power. If we understand how planarian regenerate, we can
help patient regenerate their diseased parts of body.
4. When we observed the planarian, we found they often stuck to the edge of petri dish,
where we couldnt observe them clearly. We can use dropper to blow the planarian up. But
3/4

we should be careful that the dropper cant touch the planarian. Because planarians body is
very soft and easy to be hurt.
5. We cut planarians on the top of a bed of ice in a petri dish. And the water between ice and
petri will improve the difficulty of cutting. We can remove the water by dropper if necessary.
6. When we cut the head or tail of a planarian, we should make sure the parts of head or tail
are unconnected to each other. Otherwise planarians will grow these parts together. And we
can't observe the planarian with two heads or tails.

Reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planarian
http://wenku.baidu.com/view/8dd29bf3195f312b3169a5f1.html
http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2002-04/why-can-some-animals-regenerate-limbshumans-cannot
http://www.zmescience.com/research/studies/immortal-worm-never-ages-forever-young043294/#!LKOiV

Contribution statements
We did the experiment together.

Figures

Fig.3 Observe planarian by hand lenses

4/4