Do magnets affect the growth of Planaria

[JONI_ADGE]

Hi I did a science project last year on planaria regeneration. I was so fascinated by it. I would like to continue to work on a similar project. I'm thinking to use magnets and see the effects of magnetism on their growth. However not sure what kind, and where to get these magnets. How am I supposed to place them in a petri dish? And how to measure/know the strength of a magnet? I also struggled to measure the Planaria. is there a specific microscope I need to use? Thank you

Moderator note: Science Buddies project: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... generation

[aredlife1]

Hi, it's awesome that you are interested in continuing your work on Planaria regeneration.
The magnets should be available through the link provided on the project page: https://www.kjmagnetics.com/
Make sure you read the safety precautions for neodymium magnets listed on the project page.
As control variables, it would be suitable to have magnets with the same dimensions and grade of material.
The easiest option is to proceed with the magnets discussed in this project: D901, D91, and D92 neodymium disc magnets. You will also need to decide how many of each to purchase. Think about how many replicates you want so that you can order correct amount of magnets.
In regard to placement, keep them evenly distributed across the Petri dish. Arrange the magnets with the same pole facing upward, as the Science Buddies procedure specifies.
The original procedure uses sheet metal squares and places the magnets on squares 2, 3, 4, and 6.
A 10×–40× magnification lens should work. Check with your school to see if they have a microscope before purchasing one. You can also look into using your smartphone as a microscope!

Here is a useful article on quantifying growth in regenerating planarians: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10558012/#S3

Good luck and let us know if you have any further questions,
Anya