PlanariaPPT.ppt

Plenty of Planaria Laboratory Investigation The Science and Ethics of Stem Cell Research What are Planaria? Freshwater flatworms (phylum: Platyhelminthes) Live in freshwater under leaves and stones Avoid light (“negative phototaxis”) Free living – not parasites Carnivores – eat decaying meat, insects and larvae (egg yolks or liver in the lab) 1-20 mm in size Long lived Use sexual or asexual reproduction This picture has been released it into the public domain. Overview of Brown Planaria Dugesia tigrina Planaria are complex organisms Gastrovascular System Nervous System Reproductive System Excretory/Osmoregulatory System Why study Planaria to learn about stem cells? Planaria have an amazing ability to regenerate parts of themselves Planaria regeneration is a great model for demonstrating stem cell function and complexity of tissue regeneration They can grow easily in the lab 1/279th Neoblast = Planaria Stem Cell 20-30% of all the cells in a planaria are Neoblasts. Neoblasts divide by mitosis and can make more of themselves. They are the only dividing cells in planaria. When a planaria is wounded, neoblasts migrate to the site and begin dividing Neoblasts can become ANY cell the planaria needs—nerve cells, flame cells, reproductive cells… Ann. Rev. Cell. Dev. Biol. 20:725-757, 2004 Three types of planaria with their neoblasts labeled with BrdU BrdU (bromodeoxyuridine) is substituted for thymine during DNA replication. Only dividing cells—in this case the neoblasts—will show detectible amounts of BrdU. (Dev. Biol 220: 142-153, 2000) A. Phagocata sp. B. Girardia dorotocephala C. Schmidtea mediterranea Dugesia sp. Neoblasts and Stem Cells are Totipotent “Totipotent” Stem Cell Blood Nerve Skin They can become any cell type in the body In Humans: Totipotent cells are limited to early embryonic division In Planaria: Neoblasts are always