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Believe it or not planarian flatworms are super-heroes. They can regenerate new heads, tails or their entire bodies thanks to all of pluripotent stem cells in their bodies – that means cells that can essentially become any cell or tissue in the body. Planarians are amazing because their bodies are 20% stem cells. This makes them an ideal species for stem cell research.
A Cornell University scientist, Dr. Carolyn Adler, found that planarian worm stem cells can sense which of the worms’ organs have been damaged or lost, and can therefore re-grow what the worm specifically needs replaced. The finding lays new groundwork that could lead to future regenerative therapies for other animals, including humans.
