A study on planaria revealed that after their heads exploded from exposure to barium chloride, these flatworms regrew heads and adapted to this novel environmental stressor by altering gene expression. This unexpected adaptability suggests that biological systems can actively modify their genetic responses rather than passively following genetic instructions. Lead researcher Michael Levin speculates on the potential to harness this adaptability in regenerative medicine, aiming to guide the body in repairing or regenerating tissues and organs with precision.
There is no reason why they should have a built-in mechanism for expressing certain genes when they encounter barium; this is a completely novel problem for them.
Biological systems don't just passively follow genetic instructions - they adapt. Cells seem to 'figure out' solutions to new problems, sometimes in ways scientists can't yet explain.
What if medicine could harness this innate healing ability with precision, using technology to direct the body to repair damaged tissues and organs?
Levin's research hints at the idea that the planaria self-selected the right genes to modulate out of an entire genome to adapt.
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