Eve Butler

Abstract:

Regeneration is when a certain part of the body replaces itself after this part is lost. To investigate the mechanisms of regeneration we use the model organism planaria. Planaria are capable of full body regeneration and will occasionally split in half in order to reproduce asexually. Here, we looked at the role that Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) play during the regenerative process. Previous studies show that ROS regulates several physiological processes including development, neurological functioning, and wound healing. To investigate the mechanisms of ROS during regeneration in planaria, we developed a protocol involving soaking of D. dorotocephala that decreases ROS levels (NAC, Menadione, and DPI) or increases ROS levels (APO). We found that for chemicals that caused an increase or decrease in ROS levels, there was also a delay in the production of eyespots in both the middle and tail sections.