Verifying Pluripotency in Acorn Worms

Abstract

This study aims to verify the pluripotency of acorn worm (Enteropneusta) cells using two different experimental methods. Acorn worms are marine invertebrates whose unique characteristics make them ideal subjects for this research. The first method involves transplanting stained tail tissue into the wound site of a healthy recipient to observe the integration and function of the labeled tissue during the regeneration process. The second method uses fate mapping technology, labeling specific cells with fluorescent dye in early embryos, and then transplanting these labeled cells into recipient embryos to track their migration, division, and differentiation during development. The results of both methods indicate that acorn worm cells can differentiate into various tissues and organs, confirming their pluripotency. These findings provide new insights into the developmental and regenerative mechanisms of deuterostomes.