Planarians

Planarians are flatworms belonging to the family of Platyhelminthes and are an important model organism in regenerative biology. They have the ability to regenerate any part of their body within a few weeks, replacing lost tissue and organs with little scarring. This remarkable regenerative capacity is of great interest to scientists as it may help to develop new technologies and treatments for tissue damage in humans. Planarians are also used in research related to stem cells and for studying the genetic control of development. They provide insight into how different tissues interact with each other and how the nervous and digestive systems are organized. Planarians are easy to keep, culture and breed in the laboratory, making them an ideal research model.