Flatworms And Regeneration Research

Scientists have identified a gene in planaria--freshwater flatworms renowned for their regenerative abilities--that is key for maintenance of their stem cells. Because planarian stem cells share characteristics with those of humans, the work will aid researchers striving to understand how stem cells can be used to completely repair damaged tissues and organs.

Planaria have been studied for hundreds of years, but modern genomic techniques have given researchers new ways to delve into the molecular biology underlying planarian regeneration.Accordingly, Phillip Newmark and colleagues at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) used a technique called "RNA interference" to stop a particular gene from producing its encoded protein.Without the protein, the planaria's stem cell population died out, and they lost the ability to regenerate.Now scientists will see if the gene plays a similar role in stem cells from other organisms.

All animals contain stem cells, which are unique because they have no specialized function but can mature into almost any cell type and do almost any job the body requires. In planaria, stem cells are responsible for the animal's ability to regenerate its entire body, even from small very small bits. Planaria are popular for introductory biology experiments because if one is chopped in half, two grow back.In fact, only 1/279th of a planarian is needed to regenerate a complete worm.

Newmark is a CAREER awardee, a National Science Foundation program designed to support the early career-development of those researcher-educators who are deemed most likely to become the academic leaders of the 21st century.



Posted by: Edwin    Source