Benjamin Harouni
Sigurdsen
BISC 120 Lab
November 2014
Modeling the regeneration of Gugesia dorotocephala: The window into human regeneration
Introduction:
The field of regenerative medicine aspires to control the ability to regulate the growth of organs and appendages. In order to control the growth and help those who suffer from injuries, defects and degenerative diseases, scientists must learn about the natural molecular tools that animals use to repair damage to their bodies. The medical capabilities of treating patients to regrow limbs or completely regenerate neurons are still a distant goal. However, by studying animals like Dugesia dorotocephala, also known as the Black planarian, researchers can observe the natural abilities of these …show more content…
In group one, both the left and right sides are equal in respect to regeneration. Three of the planarians died and seven were partially regenerating. Three of the control planarians survived and one died. In the second group, six of the heads partially regenerated, four of the heads died, nine of the bodies partially regenerated, and only one of them died. All four of the controls remained alive. In the third group, all of the anterior cuts partially regenerated and nine of the posterior cuts partially regenerated. Only one of the posterior cuts had no regeneration while all of the controls were alive. In the fourth group, four of the anterior body parts were regenerating, five of them were partially regenerating, and one of the planarians died. Eight of the tail cuts were not regenerating and two of them were partially regenerating. In addition, three of the controls were still alive while one of them died (Table …show more content…
Yet, a high degree of similarity exists between planarian embrology and the final stages of the posterior planarian regeneration. The understanding of the parallels between planarian embryogenisis and regeneration could be the key in utilzing human embryonic stem cells to regenerate human tissue. The problem remains that it is nearly impossible to follow the embyonic development in planarians because the embryos are surrounded by massive yolk cells which are also covered by a dark egg shell. Nevertheless, if scientists are able to break these barriers, it could greatly increase undersanding of planarian and stem cell regeneration. In the near future, this could lead to new breakthroughs in modern medicine and revolutionize the medical treatment of all
Sigurdsen
BISC 120 Lab
November 2014
Modeling the regeneration of Gugesia dorotocephala: The window into human regeneration
Introduction:
The field of regenerative medicine aspires to control the ability to regulate the growth of organs and appendages. In order to control the growth and help those who suffer from injuries, defects and degenerative diseases, scientists must learn about the natural molecular tools that animals use to repair damage to their bodies. The medical capabilities of treating patients to regrow limbs or completely regenerate neurons are still a distant goal. However, by studying animals like Dugesia dorotocephala, also known as the Black planarian, researchers can observe the natural abilities of these …show more content…
In group one, both the left and right sides are equal in respect to regeneration. Three of the planarians died and seven were partially regenerating. Three of the control planarians survived and one died. In the second group, six of the heads partially regenerated, four of the heads died, nine of the bodies partially regenerated, and only one of them died. All four of the controls remained alive. In the third group, all of the anterior cuts partially regenerated and nine of the posterior cuts partially regenerated. Only one of the posterior cuts had no regeneration while all of the controls were alive. In the fourth group, four of the anterior body parts were regenerating, five of them were partially regenerating, and one of the planarians died. Eight of the tail cuts were not regenerating and two of them were partially regenerating. In addition, three of the controls were still alive while one of them died (Table …show more content…
Yet, a high degree of similarity exists between planarian embrology and the final stages of the posterior planarian regeneration. The understanding of the parallels between planarian embryogenisis and regeneration could be the key in utilzing human embryonic stem cells to regenerate human tissue. The problem remains that it is nearly impossible to follow the embyonic development in planarians because the embryos are surrounded by massive yolk cells which are also covered by a dark egg shell. Nevertheless, if scientists are able to break these barriers, it could greatly increase undersanding of planarian and stem cell regeneration. In the near future, this could lead to new breakthroughs in modern medicine and revolutionize the medical treatment of all