Planarian Head Regeneration Lab Report
Samantha Rogers & Sarah Grill
July 6, 2015
Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Analyzing the Effects of PZQ on Planarian Head Regeneration
Abstract This paper focuses on the question of whether or not the drug PZQ (Praziquantel) has an effect on the double-headed formation of planarians. As the rest of the report will describe in more detail, we used multiple concentrations of PZQ reconstituted in 95% ethanol to observe its effects on planarians cut in a shape that promoted double headed growth. We used concentrations that we believed to be above, at, and below the optimal concentration of PZQ. In addition, we did tests on planarians with concentrations of plain ethanol to rule it out as a confounding variable. Our conclusion once …show more content…
We formed our hypothesis based on the fact that it has been shown that 70-90 µm PZQ concentration is the optimal value to two-headed planarian growth. Our overall purpose of this experiment was to see if our hypothesis was correct, and that PZQ truly did increase double head formation when added in the correct concentration to planarians. Our experimental design included 3 concentrations of PZQ and 3 equal concentrations of 95% ethanol. Our independent variable in this experiment was the concentration of the solution our planarians were in, and the dependent variable was whether or not the cut planarians grew two …show more content…
Out of all 12 worms that we tested with PZQ and with ethanol, not one grew two heads, even after the second cutting 48 hours after their original dissection.
Discussion The results did not provide an accurate answer to our hypothesis as it shows that the PZQ had no effect on the planarians two headed growth. We know this to be inaccurate because it is known that the PZQ does have an effect on double headedness when used correctly in certain concentrations according to reputable sources.
Our findings could not agree with what other experiments have shown due to flaws in our experiment. Our T-shaped planarian cuts were not perfect so they all had to be recut later on which was not ideal. The process of transferring our planarians back and forth to their petri dish after being cut was very hard on the planarians as it required them to be pipetted up. This pipetting also affected our PZQ concentrations as it caused unequal amounts of spring water to be added to the petri dishes. In order for the experiment to provide more accurate results more planarians should be used and a more delicate and efficient transferring process would need to be
July 6, 2015
Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Analyzing the Effects of PZQ on Planarian Head Regeneration
Abstract This paper focuses on the question of whether or not the drug PZQ (Praziquantel) has an effect on the double-headed formation of planarians. As the rest of the report will describe in more detail, we used multiple concentrations of PZQ reconstituted in 95% ethanol to observe its effects on planarians cut in a shape that promoted double headed growth. We used concentrations that we believed to be above, at, and below the optimal concentration of PZQ. In addition, we did tests on planarians with concentrations of plain ethanol to rule it out as a confounding variable. Our conclusion once …show more content…
We formed our hypothesis based on the fact that it has been shown that 70-90 µm PZQ concentration is the optimal value to two-headed planarian growth. Our overall purpose of this experiment was to see if our hypothesis was correct, and that PZQ truly did increase double head formation when added in the correct concentration to planarians. Our experimental design included 3 concentrations of PZQ and 3 equal concentrations of 95% ethanol. Our independent variable in this experiment was the concentration of the solution our planarians were in, and the dependent variable was whether or not the cut planarians grew two …show more content…
Out of all 12 worms that we tested with PZQ and with ethanol, not one grew two heads, even after the second cutting 48 hours after their original dissection.
Discussion The results did not provide an accurate answer to our hypothesis as it shows that the PZQ had no effect on the planarians two headed growth. We know this to be inaccurate because it is known that the PZQ does have an effect on double headedness when used correctly in certain concentrations according to reputable sources.
Our findings could not agree with what other experiments have shown due to flaws in our experiment. Our T-shaped planarian cuts were not perfect so they all had to be recut later on which was not ideal. The process of transferring our planarians back and forth to their petri dish after being cut was very hard on the planarians as it required them to be pipetted up. This pipetting also affected our PZQ concentrations as it caused unequal amounts of spring water to be added to the petri dishes. In order for the experiment to provide more accurate results more planarians should be used and a more delicate and efficient transferring process would need to be