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.
C
Control
Groups
C1
Single
Dose
C2
Double
Dose
Materials
1. 1 Vivarin Caffeine Alertness Aid 200mg Tablet
2. ml syringe
3. 3 liters of CVS brand distilled water
4. .009 RD blade
5. Dissecting Microscope
6. Pipette
7. Log book
8. Medicine bottle
9. 6 Petri dishes at 28.26 cm circumference
10. 30 brown planaria from
Carolina Biological
11. Camera (2 AA batteries)
Procedure
1.
After receiving planaria blow air into container with
pipette
2. Then let the planaria sit for one day
3. 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
water
10. Repeat steps 7 and 8
11. Put planaria under dissecting microscope and cut in half
12. 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.
1.
Ocellus
2.
Auricle
3.
Anterior branch of intestine
4.
Gut diverticula
5.
Areas of dispersed and
concentrated pigment
6.
Mouth
7.
Everted pharynx (proboscis)
8.
Posterior branch (2) of
intestine
In Addition
•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>.