Regeneration is the ability of fully differentiated organisms to give rise to new individuals from their body parts. Hydra and Planaria can be cut into pieces, and each piece grows into a complete organism, exemplifying regeneration.
What is regeneration, and how is it exemplified in simple animals like Hydra and Planaria?
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Regeneration is the process of replacing lost or damaged body parts, allowing an organism to restore its structure and function. In simple animals like Hydra and Planaria, remarkable regenerative abilities are exhibited. Hydra can regenerate from small tissue fragments, forming complete individuals. Planaria, a flatworm, can regenerate into two individuals from a single piece, even regrowing complex structures like heads and tails. These organisms possess pluripotent cells that can differentiate into various cell types, enabling extensive tissue repair. Their regenerative capacity showcases the remarkable plasticity of certain cells and highlights the evolutionary adaptations for tissue renewal in these simple animals.