2-Headed Planaria

Planaria are exceptional organisms. They show no lasting signs of aging and are capable of regrowing a full worm from as little as 1/279th an original. Furthermore, the shape of the regenerating worm depends on bioelectric signals, which can be modified to induce alternate body shapes.

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Normally, planaria will regenerate one head and one tail. However, interrupting bioelectric signals can change this outcome. I replicated a foundational experiment and showed that gap junction inhibition of bioelectric state can be used to modify the organism's body plan and lead to 2-Headed Worms.

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This shows that bioelectric state is upstream of low-level pathways, and is proof-of-concept that an organism's shape can be permanently modified without touching their genetic material. I am now expanding this work in pursuit of top-down control systems for regenerative outcomes.