Stem cells in most living organisms usually take their instructions from nearby cells. However, scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have discovered that planarian stem cells behave differently. Instead of listening to signals from adjacent cells, these stem cells respond to cues coming from distant areas within the flatworm’s body.

This surprising behavior may be the key to understanding how planarians can regrow entire body parts, and it could provide valuable insights into how human tissues might one day be repaired or replaced.