Correct option is C
The correct answer is stem cell-mediated regeneration. In planarians (flatworms), clonogenic neoblasts are a type of stem cell responsible for regeneration. These cells can divide and differentiate into various cell types, thus enabling the flatworm to regenerate lost body parts. This type of regeneration is primarily driven by stem cells, as they can replenish the damaged tissues and regenerate the whole organism or specific parts, depending on the injury.
Information Booster
- Clonogenic neoblasts are pluripotent stem cells found in planarians that play a key role in regeneration.
- These stem cells can proliferate and differentiate into various specialized cells, which allows for the regeneration of complete body parts in flatworms.
- Stem cell-mediated regeneration is a process in which stem cells generate new tissues and organs in response to injury or loss.
- Planarians are capable of regenerating their head, tail, and even entire bodies from small fragments, a feature that is linked to the high potency of neoblasts.
- Stem cell-mediated regeneration is also observed in other organisms like salamanders, which can regenerate limbs, and mice for certain tissues like liver.
- This regenerative process involves the recruitment, proliferation, and differentiation of stem cells, and it has been a subject of study for regenerative medicine.
Additional Information
- Option (a): Epimorphosis is a form of regeneration where the organism regenerates lost parts through the reorganization and growth of pre-existing tissues. This does not involve stem cells to the extent seen in planarians, making it incorrect for this question.
- Option (b): Morphallaxis is a type of regeneration where the remaining tissue reorganizes to regenerate lost parts without the extensive cell proliferation seen in stem cell-based regeneration. It does not involve clonogenic neoblasts and is incorrect for planarian regeneration.
- Option (d): Compensatory regeneration occurs when existing cells in a tissue proliferate to compensate for lost or damaged parts. It is not the primary mechanism in planarian regeneration, where stem cells play a key role. Therefore, compensatory regeneration is incorrect.
