Keep Your Head Worm
from We Have Concerns Hosted by Jeff Cannata/Anthony Carboni
Biologists at Tufts University have succeeded in inducing one species of flatworm to grow heads and brains characteristic of another species of flatworm without altering genomic sequence. The discovery could help improve understanding of birth defects and regeneration by revealing a new pathway for controlling complex pattern formation. Jeff and Anthony imagine a world with new, programmable heads, and wonder what kinds of antics these wrongheaded worms might get into. Get all your sweet We Have Concerns merch by swinging by http://wehaveconcerns.com/shop Hey! If you’re enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate/review it on whatever service you use to listen. Here’s the iTunes link: http://bit.ly/wehaveconcerns And here’s the Stitcher link: http://bit.ly/stitcherwhc Jeff on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffcannata Anthony on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acarboni Today’s story was sent in by Joe Cuevas: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151124113017.htm If you’ve seen a story you think belongs on the show, send it to [email protected] or leave it on the subreddit: http://reddit.com/r/wehaveconcerns Support the show and get bonus episodes, videos, Discord community access and more! http://patreon.com/wehaveconcerns Jeff on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcannata.bsky.social Anthony on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/acarboni.bsky.social
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Biologists at Tufts University have succeeded in inducing one species of flatworm to grow heads and brains characteristic of another species of flatworm without altering genomic sequence. The discovery could help improve understanding of birth defects and regeneration by revealing a new pathway for controlling complex pattern formation. Jeff and Anthony imagine a world with new, programmable heads, and wonder what kinds of antics these wrongheaded worms might get into.
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