Regeneration of Tissue: Lessons Learned from Flatworms.

Scheel, Arnd; Stevens, Angela

Abstract

Most living organisms can regenerate tissue or parts of organs, but to significantly different degrees. Deer can regrow their antlers, fish their fins, geckos their tails, and some crabs and salamanders complete limbs. However, tissue regeneration is very limited in humans. Because a better understanding of regeneration clearly holds tremendous potential for medical therapies, researchers have directed extensive efforts towards an organism with an amazing capability for recovery after dramatic injury: the planarian.