planarians
Freshwater flatworm species
Planarians are small flatworms found in freshwater, marine, and moist terrestrial environments.
They're notable for extraordinary regenerative abilities—a planarian cut into pieces can regrow into multiple complete organisms, each with a functional head and tail.
This makes them common subjects in biology research on tissue regeneration and stem cells.
Compressed soft-bodied invertebrate
- bilateral symmetryEqual halves along midline
- eyespotsSimple light-detecting organs
- auriclesEar-shaped body parts
- pharynxMuscular throat cavity
mesoderm · ectoderm · endoderm · cilia · epidermis · ganglia · photoreceptors · chemoreceptors
Flatworm phylum name
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- free-livingSelf-sustaining in nature
- hermaphroditicHaving both reproductive systems
- asexual reproductionSingle-parent cloning process
Non-saline aquatic environment
- pondSmall still body
- streamSteady continuous flow
- creekNarrow natural watercourse
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
aquatic · benthic · sediment · detritus · leaf litter · predator · scavenger · carnivorous
Able to become many cell types
- stem cellsUndifferentiated cells with regenerative potential
- wound healingRestoration after injury
- scarlessHaving no healed-wound marks
- fissionNuclear breakup releasing energy
polarity · anterior · posterior · regrowth · reconstitution
Facility for scientific investigation
- microscopyTechnique using powerful lenses
- genomicsStudy of entire genetic sequences
- neuroscienceStudy of nervous systems
- cell cultureLaboratory technique for growing tissue
flatworm
Compressed soft-bodied invertebrate
- bilateral symmetryEqual halves along midline
- eyespotsSimple light-detecting organs
- auriclesEar-shaped body parts
pharynx · mesoderm · ectoderm · endoderm · cilia · epidermis · ganglia · photoreceptors · chemoreceptors · mucus
Platyhelminthes
Flatworm phylum name
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- free-livingSelf-sustaining in nature
- hermaphroditicHaving both reproductive systems
asexual reproduction · sexual reproduction · cocoon · pharyngeal
freshwater
Non-saline aquatic environment
substrate · aquatic · benthic · sediment · detritus · leaf litter · predator · scavenger · carnivorous · nocturnal
pluripotent
Able to become many cell types
- stem cellsUndifferentiated cells with regenerative potential
- wound healingRestoration after injury
- scarlessHaving no healed-wound marks
fission · polarity · anterior · posterior · regrowth · reconstitution
laboratory
Facility for scientific investigation
- microscopyTechnique using powerful lenses
- genomicsStudy of entire genetic sequences
- neuroscienceStudy of nervous systems
cell culture · biomedical · immortality · dissection · amputation
- invertebratesinvertebrate, arthropod, arthropods, mollusk, crustacean
- wormsearthworm, earthworms, nightcrawler, roundworms, flatworms
- flatwormsflatworm, flatworms, tapeworm, tapeworms, fluke
planariansmammals
Hair-bearing, milk-producing animals
humans · birds · insects · vertebrates · cephalopods