Finding the potency in planarians

Abstract

Planarian flatworms are well-known for their regenerative ability, which is dependent on a large population of adult stem cells, called neoblasts, at least some of which are pluripotent. Here, two recent studies are compared that have begun to address this fundamental question of whether all or only some neoblasts are pluripotent. Recent developments in the field of planarian stem cell research are discussed, an active and accessible stem cell system that can generate any cell type of the planarian body, to address the question of pluripotency among neoblasts.

Topics & Concepts