Question:

Planaria possess high capacity of

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Planaria's regeneration is morphallactic.
This means the body reconstructs itself entirely from small fragments, unlike epimorphic regeneration (like a lizard regenerating only its lost tail).
Updated On: Jul 22, 2026
  • Bioluminescence
  • Metamorphosis
  • Regeneration
  • Polyembryony
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify the physiological or developmental capability that is highly developed in the genus Planaria.

Step 2: Key Concepts and Approach:
Planaria is a non-parasitic flatworm belonging to the phylum Platyhelminthes (class Turbellaria).
It is a classic model organism used in developmental biology to study tissue renewal and cellular differentiation.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

Regeneration: Planarians have an extraordinary ability to regenerate lost or damaged body parts.
If a planarian is cut into multiple small pieces, each piece can grow and differentiate into a complete, fully functional new organism.
This is called morphallactic regeneration.
This process is driven by a population of pluripotent stem cells called neoblasts, which make up about 20% of the cells in the planarian body. Thus, this is the correct choice.

Bioluminescence: This is the production and emission of light by a living organism (e.g., ctenophores, fireflies), which is absent in Planaria.

Metamorphosis: This is a developmental process involving abrupt structural changes from larva to adult (e.g., amphibians, insects), which is not a defining feature of flatworms like Planaria.

Polyembryony: This is the development of multiple embryos from a single fertilized egg, which is not characteristic of Planaria.


Step 4: Final Answer:
Planaria is famous for its high capacity of true regeneration.
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