Paper Summary:

This paper describes an experiment designed to determine the fate of Planaria that had been cut in half, while immersed in varying concentrations of MgCl, as Magnesium has been shown to relax smooth muscles, inhibiting wound closure. The experiment had fatal results for the Planaria that were in the two highest concentrations of MgCl. It should also be noted that the experiment had to be halted after just five days, due to another student mishandling and spilling the Planaria. The data gathered leading up to the halt of the experiment showed that Planaria which are in the highest concentrations (provided that the concentration is not high enough to be fatal) of MgCl will have the slowest rate of regeneration and wound closure.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results

From the Paper:

"The class of Turbellaria contains the phylum Platyhelminthes, and the family Planariidae to which Planaria belong to. Planaria are free-living flat worms that can be found in marine, aquatic, and terrestrial environments. The planarian has very simple organ systems. It consists of a small brain, perceptual organs and digestive system that comprises of a mouth, pharynx, and an intestine (Pitt-Bradford, 2002). However, it is a planarian's morphogenesis that can be mysterious and is of interest. Planaria have highly robust regeneration systems with the ability to re-grow lost body parts (Brooks and Rodney, 1999). When part of its body is excised, each piece of the part has the ability to regenerate itself (Reddien and Alvarado, 2004). During regeneration, muscle contractions in the Planaria close the wound, followed by the spreading of epithelial cells. Regeneration in planarians depends on a population of adult stem cells called neoblasts that have the potential to turn into any type of planarian cell (Reddien et al, 2005). By studying this process, one can expand their scientific knowledge and perhaps develop ways of helping out other people and animals that have lost their limbs by finding a way of having their body regenerate the missing appendage back."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Baguna J., Salo E., and Auladell E. (1999) Regeneration and pattern formation in planarians. Company Biologists, Vol.107, Issue 1 p.77-86.
• Brooks A., Rodney A. (1999) Intelligence Without Reason. Published by Massachusetts Institute of Technology. p.79-101.
• Pitt-Bradford. Science in Motion.http://www.upb.pitt.edu/scienceinmotion/UPB%20SIM%20BIO/bio013a_Planaria%20Intro.doc. 2002.Accessed on 29/11/2006
• Reddien P.W. and Alvarado A.S. (2005) Responses To Stress. Functional Ecology. Vol.19 p.656- 664.
• Reddien P.W., Bermange L.A., Murfitt J.K., Jennings R.J., and Alvarado A.S. (2004) Fundementals Of Planarian Regeneration. Vol.20 p.725-757.

Visitors who viewed this Research Paper also liked these:

• Essay # 48932 : "Magnesium Chloride"
• Term Paper # 115945 : "Percentage Composition of Magnesium Oxide"
• Research Paper # 104224 : "The Regeneration of Planaria"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: