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California Blackworm

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Sun Charm

PostPosted: Mon May 05, 2008 5:18 pm


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We are studying these in science and they are very interesting. You can cut it in half and It will regenerate the missing body parts in less than 3 weeks. They have photo receptors on their tails that can detect shadows from prey and quickly hide themselves. But What I think is fascinating is that it can go weeks without food, and yet it can generate its body? Do you know anything about the blackworm? Have anything to share about them? Or just give your opinion about them.


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PostPosted: Sat May 10, 2008 9:44 am


I don't know anything about blackworms specifically, but understand that many simpler organisms can regenerate because of their simpler anatomies. Even some lizards can grow back their tails. The secret is having a supply of totipotent (undiferrentiated) cells that can give rise to new tissue of any type. This becomes more challenging as anotomical complexity increases however, because of the high degree of specificity needed in development. In college I remember studying experiments done on chicken embryos that caused deformations simply by relocating small patches of cells during development (very disturbing). Sorry for getting of topic there. Share what you learn about the blackworms, they sound fascinating.

SirKirbance


Avaloch

PostPosted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:20 pm


This totally reminds me of starfish... Cut off the leg of a star fish and it is able to regenerate it fairly rapidly... I think the presence of undifferentiated cells accounts for the ability to regenerate cells.
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