Template:Short description Template:For Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Automatic taxobox
Planaria is a genus of planarians in the family Planariidae. Due to its excellent ability to regenerate, species of Planaria has also been used as model organisms in regeneration studies.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> When an individual is cut into pieces, each piece has the ability to regenerate into a fully formed individual.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> When decapitated, they retain their memories.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
DescriptionEdit
Currently the genus Planaria is defined as freshwater triclads with oviducts that unite to form a common oviduct without embracing the bursa copulatrix and with an adenodactyl present in the male atrium. The testes occur along the whole body.<ref name="Ball2009">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Planaria originally have habitats in dark, murky water which results in such sensitivity (Paskin et al., 2014). They are also sensitive to other stimuli such as chemical gradients, vibration, magnetic and electric fields (Deochand et al., 2018). Their central nervous system includes the anterior (head, brain and eyes) and middle (abdominal trunk and pharynx) (Deochand et al., 2018).
DietEdit
The food of Planaria species includes freshwater gastropods, tubificid worms, and freshwater arthropods, such as isopods of the genus Asellus and chironomid larvae.<ref name="ReynoldsonSefton1976">Template:Cite journal</ref> In the United Kingdom, P. torva is a successful predator of the invasive New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus jenkinsi).<ref name="Reynoldson1979">Template:Cite journal</ref>
SpeciesEdit
The following species are recognised in the genus Planaria: Template:Div col
- Planaria adhaerens Template:Small
- Planaria albocingata Template:Small
- Planaria barroisi Template:Small
- Planaria bicingulata Template:Small
- Planaria chulunginensis Template:Small
- Planaria cincinata Template:Small
- Planaria cinerea Template:Small
- Planaria dagarensis Template:Small
- Planaria debilis Template:Small
- Planaria delineata Template:Small
- Planaria dybouskyi Template:Small
- Planaria flava Template:Small
- Planaria fontana Template:Small
- Planaria fuliginosa Template:Small
- Planaria fuliginosus Template:Small
- Planaria fulvifrons Template:Small
- Planaria fuscomaculata Template:Small
- Planaria gigas Template:Small
- Planaria grubii Template:Small
- Planaria ignorata Template:Small
- Planaria incerta Template:Small
- Planaria kempi Template:Small
- Planaria lemani Template:Small
- Planaria lucta Template:Small
- Planaria luteola Template:Small
- Planaria macrocephala Template:Small
- Planaria maculata Template:Small
- Planaria marmorosa Template:Small
- Planaria melanocerca Template:Small
- Planaria melanopunctata Template:Small
- Planaria melanotorquis Template:Small
- Planaria nesidensis Template:Small
- Planaria onegensis Template:Small
- Planaria punctatum Template:Small
- Planaria rosea Template:Small
- Planaria rothii Template:Small
- Planaria sabussowi Template:Small
- Planaria savignyi Template:Small
- Planaria semifasciata Template:Small
- Planaria simplex Template:Small
- Planaria sinensis Template:Small
- Planaria subflava Template:Small
- Planaria torva Template:Small
- Planaria tremellaris Template:Small
- Planaria unionicola Template:Small
- Planaria verrucosa Template:Small
- Planaria wytegrensis Template:Small
- Planaria zeylanica Template:Small
Application of planaria in researchEdit
These invertebrates are valuable models in toxicology, neuroscience, and pharmacology, offering ethical and cost-effective alternatives to vertebrate testing. Planaria’s simple nervous system, high sensitivity to environmental changes, and well-characterized genome make them particularly useful for studying chemical toxicity, wound healing, and neuroregeneration. Their ease of maintenance in laboratory settings further enhances their appeal for research. In pharmacology and neuroscience, planaria provide a unique opportunity to study the effects of psychoactive compounds, including investigations into drug addiction and withdrawal responses.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> In drug delivery studies, they can be used to assess the biocompatibility and potential irritancy of pharmaceutical formulations, providing insight into their effects on biological tissues.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Additionally, their remarkable ability to regenerate lost body parts makes them an important model for stem cell research, offering insights into cellular and molecular mechanisms of regeneration.
ReferencesEdit
Template:Sister project Template:Reflist
- Deochand, N., Costello, M. S., & Deochand, M. E. (2018). Behavioral Research with Planaria. Perspectives on behavior science, 41(2), 447–464. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-018-00176-w