Gene That Allows Worms To Grow New Head And Brain Discovered

Scientists at The University of Nottingham have discovered the gene that enables an extraordinary worm to regenerate its own body parts after amputation - including a whole head and brain.

The research led by Dr Aziz Aboobaker, a Research Councils UK Fellow in the School of Biology, shows for the first time that a gene called 'Smed-prep' is essential for correctly regenerating a head and brain in planarian worms.