Planaria Regeneration

Orefield Middle School

7th Grade

Background Knowledge• Planarian- Is a swimming flat worm,

mostly freshwater, belongs to the class of Turbellaria, and has the ability to regenerate all body parts.

• Photoreceptors- Are the pupil of the Planarian (right), when the photoreceptors appear the planarian is

completely regenerated. • Caffeine- Is a naturally produced drug

that can be found in the leaves and seeds of many plants. Causes messages to be passed along the nervous system more quickly.

Why I Chose my Topic• First, I was going to do how caffeine effects red

cherry shrimp. I received my red cherry shrimp, even before they were given the caffeine they all died.

• I decided to stay with the caffeine, but with a different species. I was going to use starfish, they can regenerate their arms. As I did more research I found out that they were going to be too hard to maintain.

• My teacher then mentioned to me about this

species called Planaria. She said that they are one of the few animals that can regenerate all of their body parts. I did research on Planaria, and they just amazed me.

• So, finally I had my topic and as you can see it is

how does caffeine effect the regeneration of Planaria. Next year, I would love to work with this amazing species again.

Problem Statement What are the effects of

various levels of caffeine on the regeneration of

Planaria?

Hypothesis If planaria are given a

measured amount of caffeine then their regeneration process will speed up. Group C2 will regenerate faster than group C1. In addition, group C1 will regenerate faster than group C. According to my research from www.pezooo.com/caffeine.htm it states that caffeine causes messages to be passed along the nervous system more quickly.

Groups

CControl

C2Double Dose

C1Single Dose

Materials1. 1 Vivarin Caffeine Alertness Aid 200mg

Tablet2. ml syringe3. 3 liters of CVS brand distilled water4. .009 RD blade5. Dissecting Microscope6. Pipette 7. Log book8. Medicine bottle9. 6 Petri dishes at 28.26 cm circumference 10. 30 brown planaria from Carolina Biological11. Camera (2 AA batteries)

Procedure 1. After receiving planaria blow air

into container with pipette2. Then let the planaria sit for one

day3. On the second day put Planaria

into Petri dishes, five in each dish , ten total in a group

4. From day to day make sure Planaria have enough water

Procedure (continued) 5. Take one Vivarin Caffeine Alertness

Aid 200mg Tablet to pharmacist ask for tablet to be crushed and put in distilled water

6. Formula: (.18 mg)(10)=1.8 mg then (100lb)(453,592.37)=45,359,237 mg then 1.8 mg/45,359,237 mg=3.9 ml (single dose) (3.9)(2)=7.8 ml (double dose)

7. Use syringes to give group C1 a single dosage of caffeine mixture

8. Use syringes to give group C2 a double dosage of caffeine mixture

Procedure (continued) 9. Wait two days on second day give

planaria all new water10.Repeat steps 7 and 811.Put planaria under dissecting

microscope and cut in half12. Put heads in one dish and put

posterior in another

13.Observe daily under microscope 14.When their photoreceptors

appear the Planaria are completely regenerated

In this picture (left) is an uncut

Planarian.

This picture (right) is a Planarian,

which has had it’s posterior cut off within one hour.

These pictures of

Planaria are on the third

day after being cut.

Conclusion• The researcher found that when

Planaria are given a measured amount of caffeine their regeneration process speeds up.

• The researcher's hypothesis was partially correct. The researcher stated that if Planaria are given a measured amount of caffeine then their regeneration process will speed up. The researcher also stated that Group C2 will regenerate faster than group C1. In addition, group C1 will regenerate faster than group C.

Conclusion (continued)• After experimentation group C1 and C2

regenerated at the same time, two days after being cut. Which shows that even with a double dose the regeneration stays the same as a single dose. Group C regenerated at six days, the normal time of complete Planaria regeneration.

• The researcher’s experiment benefits society because it shows that caffeine can speed up messages that are passed through the nervous system.

• Something the researcher could have done differently was looked at the planaria daily rather than just once a day.

In Addition1. Ocellus2. Auricle3. Anterior branch

of intestine4. Gut diverticula5. Areas of

dispersed and concentrated pigment

6. Mouth7. Everted pharynx

(proboscis)8. Posterior branch

(2) of intestine

• When the researcher cut the Planaria she found what looked like a “feeding tube”. She did some research and found out about this “feeding tube”.• This “feeding tube” is

actually the Planarian’s everted pharynx (proboscis) which is just a tube that connects the mouth and nasal passages with the esophagus. On the end of this tube is the mouth.• The Planarians proboscis is

attached to the anterior branch of the intestine.

As you can see (left) the

Planarian has its proboscis out,

after it has been partially cut.

As you can see (right) the Planarian’s proboscis is extended.

Annotated Bibliography 1. "Caffeine." Teens Health. 12 Feb. 2008 <http://kidshealth.org/     

2. PageManager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&ps=207&cat_id=20140&art.>.

3. "Caffeine Content of Food & Drugs." Center for Science in the

Public Interest. 12 Feb. 2008     

4. <http://cspinet.org/new/cafchart.htm>.

5. Dictionary.com. 12 Feb. 2008 <http://dictionary.com>. "Food Additives.

6. " Food Safety. 12 Feb. 2008 <http://cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm>.

7. "Planaria Regeneration Activity." Howard Hughes Medical Institute. 12 Feb. 2008  <http://www.hhmi.org/lectures/planaria/planaria_regen_activity.pdf>.

8. "Working with Planaria." Ward's. 12 Feb. 2008 <http://wardsci.com/pdf/     Working_with_Planaria.pdf>.