Caring for your Immortal Flatworm
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The planarian species often referred to as "immortal" is Schmidtea mediterranea. This particular type of planarian, a flatworm, has remarkable regenerative capabilities. It can regrow its entire body from just a small fragment of tissue, making it a fascinating subject for biological research, particularly in the fields of regenerative medicine and stem cell biology.
The "immortality" of Schmidtea mediterranea is largely due to its high concentration of pluripotent stem cells, known as neoblasts, which can differentiate into any type of cell in the worm's body. This allows the planarian to regenerate lost or damaged tissue and even reproduce asexually through fission.
- Use a clean, flat-bottomed container, such as a glass or plastic dish, or a small aquarium.
- Ensure the container has a tight-fitting lid to prevent escape and maintain humidity.
- Line the bottom of the container with filter paper or a thin layer of fine-grained aquarium sand.
- Avoid using soil or coarse substrates that could harm the planarians.