NAME Andrew C

CLASS Science 7
DATE 4-22-14
PLANARIA LAB REPORT

PROBLEM: If trisected, which piece of a planarian will regenerate first?

HYPOTHESIS: If trisected, then the mid section will regenerate first.

THEORY:

Planarian are flatworms, which like other organisms reproduce
sexually. During sexual reproduction eggs are produced in the ovaries of the
planarian, the egg is soon met within the genital pore by a corresponding
sperm cell, although the eggs are laid outside the organism they re fertilized in
the inside. Planarian are hermaphrodites, which means they contain both the
male and female gonads. This is important because it means planarian can
reproduce with any other of their species, this quality is important when the
population of mates is low or mostly one gendered.

When conditions are less than ideal, planarian have the ability to
reproduce asexually. This form of asexual reproduction is similar to tail
dropping in the sense that a section of the body is purposefully dropped in
hopes to be regrown in the future. Planarian only reproduce asexually when
the conditions are terrible, if for example, there are no mates for sexual
reproduction then asexual is the planarias alternative. In order to commit
asexual reproduction the planarias posterior grips to the ground while the
anterior continues moving forward. The flatworms body tenses and the tail
drops, once the rest of the body grows back it is an exact genetic clone to the
original planaria.

Planarian are able to reproduce asexually through the process of
regeneration. A planarias anatomy includes polarity, this attributes to
regeneration because it assists the organism to not regrow an unnecessary
body part in the wrong place. In a situation when the planaria commits
fragmentation neoblasts rush to the wound and create a blastema to begin
creating new tissue. These totipotent cells have the potential to become any
cell needed throughout the body, for example some could be skin cells while
others are reproductive cells. A planarians body contains approximately 30%
stem cells; these cells are important through regeneration because they can
easily fit the requirements to regrow the necessary tissue. My hypothesis
states that the mid section will regenerate first, I believe this because of what I
now about regeneration.



DATA:







CONCLUSION:

In this lab we trisected a planaria, we were testing which section of the
flatworm would regenerate first. I hypothesized that the mid section would
regenerate first; my data shows that by day 9 the mid section had almost
completely regrown a new posterior and anterior section, while the anterior
and posterior had barely regrown any of what they lost. In 7
th
period 43%, 6 of
17 midsections had regrown the fastest. In the 7
th
grade 49%, 38 of 78 mid
section regrew the fastest; this information informs us that the midsection
regrew the fastest over all through out the whole 7
th
grade. In conclusion,
planarian will regenerate when trisected and the midsection will regenerate
fastest, my conclusion was 100% correct because my groups midsection grew
back fastest.


ANALYSIS:

Since my groups midsection regrew the fastest and the same happened
with 49% of the grade, this leads me to believe my data is valid. Over a 9-day
experiment period 38 of 78, 49% of the planarian had the midsection regrow
the fastest in 7
th
grade. In 7
th
period during the same 9-day time set 6 of 14, or
43% had the midsection regrow the fastest, I believe in this data because the
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Anterior Mid Section Posterior
%

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2013 Regeneration Data
7th Period
7th Grade
midsection consists of many major organs, such as reproductive system,
digestive system, and many others. I believe these systems take more time to
regrow over other easier parts such as tail tissue or head tissue. Based on the
information I know I would have expected a higher percentage of regrowth in
the midsection category. Through the same 9-day period 29 of 78, 37% of the
7
th
grade recorded the Anterior to have regrown the fastest; I believe this data
unlikely but possibly valid, I can understand why the Anterior would regrow
the fastest but my hypothesis doesnt line up with the data. It seems more
logical for the midsection to regrow the fastest instead. The posterior piece
had 0% of my period regrow the fastest, this seams logical to me. In the 7
th

grade however, 11 of 78, or 14% of the students recorded the posterior to
have regrown the fastest. If I were to modify the experiment to make it more
reliable I would have aided all the groups in the cutting so that no specific part
had an advantage. Hopefully this would keep the data to a more direct number.

Planarian are flatworms, which, like humans, contain pockets of stem
cells though out their bodies. The only real difference is that planarian contain
neoblast; these totipotent cells stay the same throughout the life cycle of the
flatworm.

Stem cells are incredibly useful to function of the human body. Stem
cells are totipotent cells that can be differentiated to preform any necessary
task. These stem cells play an essential role in our bodies, from embryonic
development to adulthood. When sperm and egg cell meet a special stem cell
is created, this stem cell has the potential to become the embryo and placenta.
During the primary stages of development the stem cells stay dormant, but
when a special signal is picked up by the stem cells they spring to life
differentiating and dividing. Approximately a week after fertilization the
embryo has transformed into a lopsided hollow ball, from the inner cellular
lining will the blastema will arise. Within the ball lies the inner cell mass,
these totipotent cells are the building blocks for the body. A week has past
since the blastema and inner cell mass have formed, now the embryo has
organized in to unique 3 layers, cell signals restricted the cells potential even
further, and each layer will form a different set of cell types. The next step for
the stem cells is to differentiate further; the outer layer, or the ectoderm has
become skin, nervous system, and parts of the face and neck. While the middle
layer, or mesoderm has become muscle, blood, blood vessels, and the
beginnings of bone and tissue. And finally digestive and respiratory systems
are starting to form from the ectoderm. Throughout growth and development
pockets of stem cells remain even as many have differentiated. These pockets
stay with you throughout your body for cell replacement and wound repair.
Somatic stem cells differ from the embryonic stem cells; these pluripotent
cells only give rise to certain things, for example blood cells are usually
derived from bone marrow. Stem cells continue to maintain are bodies from
the embryo to adulthood; they give rise to our major organs and specialize
tissue.

Although previously there was a lot of controversy surrounding stem
cell research, nowadays there is little to none. One of the most controversy-
covered methods is hES; hES accentually uses embryonic cells (the must
pluripotent stem cells) to help heal the body. The reason hES methods are so
dismissed is because during the process of taking the stem cells the embryo
dies. In other words, this method of research causes loses of potential human
beings. As controversy grew against hES, scientist started to develop a new
forms of stem cell research, 2 of which are IPS and STAP. IPS, or induced
pluripotent stem cells are artificially made embryonic stem cells created when
genes are inserted into a somatic cell in the body. STAP, or stimulus-triggered
acquisition of pluripotency is when somatic cell are exposed to a simple
stimulus (like an acid bath) this interaction turns the somatic cell into an
artificial embryonic stem cell. Using newly discovered methods like STAP and
IPS, scientists no longer have to kill human embryos in order to research stem
cells; making them less controversial, and an excellent alternative!