Miraculously reincarnate into a completely new species of flatworms

Flatworms are known to be 'immortal' animals with superhuman regeneration. But in fact, flatworms are even more magical than we ever knew.

New regeneration ability of flatworms

If you cut a flat worms in half, you'll have two new worms. A worm will grow a new head from the tail, and a worm will grow its tail below the head. But the ability of worms to regenerate is not simply to grow parts.

Scientists in Massachussetts have discovered something new: A flatworm has the ability to regenerate the head and brain of another worm.

The study of the special ability of flatworms can be applied in the treatment of birth defects or the development of a new biological structure for the body after injury.

A G. dorotecephala flatworm can grow into the head and brain of three other flatworm species.

Scientists have experimented with stimulating Girardia dorotocephala flatworms and as a result they can develop the characteristic head and brain of other worms. This phenomenon occurs when protein channels are blocked, signals between cells are also blocked. In addition, the researchers sought to alter the distribution of adult stem cells of worms, making them grow into the brain in a shape different from the original subject.

However, after only a few weeks, the head and brain will return to their original form.

'We often think that the sequence and structure of genetic material will create chromosomes, which determine the shape of the organism. However, new research shows that the new physiological function network can be overwritten with the default chromosome to form a new shape for the organism ' - Researcher Michael Levin, Chair of the Research Center Save the regenerating creature at Tufts School of Science, said.

Different shapes of a flatworm when "inserted" new genetic information into the body.

'By regulating cell connections through synapses, they can catch flatworms that must regenerate the head and brain of another species. This development can contribute to solving the problem of complex body building ' - Dr Levin added.

Of course, flatworms can easily form the head and brain of another species in part because their physiological network can be easily replaced . This information can help scientists better understand the evolution of the biological world.