Scientists Find Worms that Recently Evolved the Ability to Regrow Complete Head

Summary: An international group of researchers including biologists from the University of Maryland found that at least four species of marine ribbon worms independently evolved the ability to regrow a head after amputation. In a survey of 35 species of marine ribbon worms, the researchers found that the ability to regenerate an entire head, including a brain, evolved relatively recently in four different species. Studies from the 1930s of the ribbon worm Lineus sanguineus showed it to be a champion of animal regeneration with the ability to regrow a whole body and head successfully from the equivalent of just one two-hundred-thousandths of an individual (that’s like re-growing a 150-pound person from just 0.012 ounces of tissue or roughly 1/16th of a teaspoon).

Source: neurosciencenews.com