Planaria Regeneration

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GIsenberg/planaria.htm

Planarians belong to the phylum Platyhelminthes (flatworms). Their body plan features bilateral symmetry. Planarians are free-living. Freshwater planarians live on the undersides of rocks and debris in streams, ponds, and springs. They avoid strong light and are much more active at night than during the day. Planarians are carnivorous and scavengers eating smaller, slow moving animals as well as dead animals.

Planarians exhibit remarkable powers of restoring lost body parts. If a piece of the animal tears off, this small, torn piece can regenerate into a complete organism.

MATERIALS

Petri dishes
Glass slide
Single-edge razor blade
Aged water or pond water. Age water is tap water set out for a week or more.
Small camel hair brush

PROCEDURE

1) Place a planarian on a slide and observe.
2) Fill two petri dishes with aged water. Label one "head" and the other "tail". Date the dishes.
3) Using the brush, place a planaria on a glass slide. Using the edge of a paper towel, remove excess water. The planaria will begin to extend itself.
4) Take the razor blade and make a swift, clean cut. The easiest cut is crosswise.
5) Use the brush to place the "head-half" in the petri dish labeled "head". Place the "tail-half" in the dish labeled "tail".
6) Cover and keep in a cool place with subdued light.

OBSERVATION

Observe daily over the next three to five days for evidence of growth of a new head or tail. Which sections regenerated faster.

Do not feed planaria for at least two weeks during regeneration.

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