Worms regrow their decapitated heads, along with the memories inside

[Future]

Think you countered your own point though... it's a private school known for its research. If someone felt that strongly about contributing to research they probably would attend Tufts at all (or as a parent, wouldn't pay for it).

Well you are going to pay for things you dont want at any school. I think that, in terms of priorities, seeing where your money goes when deciding to go to a school is probably near the bottom.

 

[Sarge]

I gotta start eating some more worms - my memory is shot these days.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I gotta start eating some more worms - my memory is shot these days.

Sounds like just another excuse to drink more Tequila from you Sarge.

I see what you did there.


LOL

 

[MonsterD]

I know this thread says Worms regrow their heads but when I first looked at this, this morning, for whatever reason I read Women. Don't ask me why, I have no intelligent answer for that. It's just that from then on, I keep reading Women and it's kinda freaking me out.


lol..............

I did the exact same thing, maybe we can get a study funded for the cause of it just to bother Future.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I did the exact same thing, maybe we can get a study funded for the cause of it just to bother Future.

Nope, I'm pretty sure that's a bad idea MD. A study funded for the cause of that is code for Arkham Asylum. No, best we just let our crazy be misdiagnosed as Illiteracy and be safe about the whole dang thing.

 

[Nova]

Well you are going to pay for things you dont want at any school. I think that, in terms of priorities, seeing where your money goes when deciding to go to a school is probably near the bottom.

Well yeah. But you also can't be too bent out of shape if you've selected a school known for research for doing research. Especially when it's a private institution with a tuition around 60k a year.

 

[joseephuss]

There was an episode of Fringe similar to this. One of the characters ate blended flatworms(planarians are a type of this) to help recover memories. Walter had previously studied flatworms and memories. This is based on real studies done in the 1950s.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

There was an episode of Fringe similar to this. One of the characters ate blended flatworms(planarians are a type of this) to help recover memories. Walter had previously studied flatworms and memories. This is based on real studies done in the 1950s.

I miss that show. I really liked it. Of course, I'm an old tinfoil skipper from way back so there is that. Still in all, good show I thought.

 

[Future]

Well yeah. But you also can't be too bent out of shape if you've selected a school known for research for doing research. Especially when it's a private institution with a tuition around 60k a year.

I agree. I think that maybe originally I overstated how I really feel about this whole thing. Its more of a mild feeling than something worth this many posts lol

 

[DallasCowpoke]

Some memories just won’t die — and some can even be transferred to a whole new brain. Researchers at Tufts University have determined that a small, yellow worm known as a planarian, which has long been studied for its regenerative properties, is able to grow back a lot more than just its body parts: after the worm’s small, snake-like head and neck are removed, its body will even regrow a brain that’s capable of quickly relearning its lost skills.

http://www.redicecreations.com/article.php?id=26025

I kinda feel like they're somewhat blurring the lines between memory and a basic survival instinct.

 

[Idgit]

I dont get why anybody cares about this kind of stuff on more than an "oh cool" basis. How is it worthwhile to spend millions researching worms? How can you even prove that they have memories?

The implications for research like this are usually significant.

As to proving they have memories, I think they just ask them their favorite colors and see if it's the same as it was with the other head. If the answers match, it's probably close enough.

 

[Rack]

I dont get why anybody cares about this kind of stuff on more than an "oh cool" basis. How is it worthwhile to spend millions researching worms? How can you even prove that they have memories?

My father has alheimer's so... I care.

 

[iceberg]

i'm not sure which is worse, the $ spent on this, or the $ spent to identify worm memories to compare it to.

 

[jobberone]

Space exploration has resulted in many inventions and new technology as an offshoot. Pure research generates money and all the advancements in technology benefit mankind greatly. Pure research is a great investment. How do you think we got where we are now? It wasn't because someone said let's invent this although that does happen. Generally, its that's interesting; I wonder if we could use this over here and over there.

 

[VietCowboy]

I also thought that it said women, so you aren't alone.

 

[5Stars]

I also think worms have 5 hearts...that is why you can cut one in half and both half's live.

 

[FiveRings]

I would say that most of them are. I think Academia is a pretty ridiculous thing in and of itself. Knowing for the sake of knowing seems absurd, unless it comes at no cost

Knowledge is power man. You can never know too much. And you never know how small a discovery it takes to lead a breakthrough.

And I poked around the article a bit, never did they mention a figure of "millions" as the cost of the project. So if anything it just time and resources