Key Differences Between Morphallaxis and Epimorphosis
The process through which organisms experience regrowth and renewal is called morphallaxis. Not all animals regenerate in the same manner; hydra and jellyfish replace their missing parts by reorganising from the pre-existent ones. This process occurs in plants, animals, and humans also. In humans, regeneration of the liver is the best example and in animals, it occurs in lizards. Hydra is the best example for plants where budding happens from dissociated cells.
Defining Morphallaxis
Morphallaxis is the regeneration by transformation, renewal, and rebirth of existing body tissues. It is a biological process of reorganising the leftover parts in vertebrates into new organisms. It depends on the remodelling and reconstruction of already existing body tissues. If we observe one severed section of the hydra, they form smaller versions of the original hydra, thus facilitating an exchange of tissue and forming two fully functional and independent hydra.
Morphallaxis Regeneration
There is a slightly different process from morphallaxis known as epimorphosis. In morphallaxis, regeneration happens from reorganisation, whereas in epimorphosis, regeneration occurs from cellular differentiation. An example of morphallaxis is budding in hydra, whereas epimorphosis is when a lizard repairs its cut-off tail.
Morphallaxis is observed in many lower animals and occurs as a result of an injury, bisection of an animal, etc. Researchers Wison and Child proved in 1930 that hydra was pulped and put in an aqueous solution. Even then, it would shortly reform into a new hydra. This regeneration is morphallactic. If our finger is cut off, we cannot restore it, but hydra, if cut into a few pieces, will regenerate to form new individuals. There is an exception, though in planarians, as in some vertebrates such as salamanders, regeneration through cell proliferation and morphallaxis are both needed for complete renewal.
Regeneration also is of two types, that is, reparative and restorative. Our livers are a prime example of regeneration, but here they make new cells which are called hepatocytes, which actually work like stem cells.
Morphallaxis Examples
An example of morphallaxis is ‘budding in hydra’, which is the process where a new hydra grows from its parent body. When a hydra is cut into half, the upper part develops a foot, and the lower part develops a head.
Regeneration happens in two ways:
In morphallaxis, any organism that is cut is regenerated into a complete organism; for example, planaria and hydra can regenerate into whole organisms,
In epimorphosis, the injured part is repaired. For example, a lizard repairs its cut tail. In this process, some undifferentiated cells known as 'blastema ' are formed, and they rapidly divide to form a new tail.
The regeneration of skin and liver is the prime example of regeneration in humans. Regeneration also happens in planarian flatworms and limbs of amphibians. Other examples are salamanders, annelids, etc.
Morphallaxis Hydra
Hydra belongs to a group of freshwater Cnidarians that are 0.5 cm in length; they possess a short tubular body. The head part of hydra contains the mouth and tentacles, the lower part has the head. It is one of the few organisms that have great regeneration calibre. This peculiar property has made this genus one of the most important models for understanding the process of regeneration. They can regenerate missing parts upon transverse and longitudinal amputation.
The whole hydra body forms within 4 to 7 days after amputation. Immediately after amputation, there is a reorganising of epithelial cells to close the wound, the emergence of tentacles emerge within the next 24 hours, and the whole process takes place within 72 hours. Major cell reorganisation happens over the next few days, thus completing the process in 4 to 7 days.
Interesting Facts
An Interesting fact is that salamanders can regrow their damaged hearts, too, along with limbs, jaws, retina, etc.
If in hydra any amputation happens away from the mid-gastric region, it will exhibit morphallaxis mode, but if amputation is done after head generation and mid-gastric cut, then it proceeds through the process of epimorphosis.
Important Questions
1. What is the mechanism behind morphallaxis?
Ans. The mechanism involved in morphallaxis is regenerative tissue remodelling. Scientists have long since been amazed at the ability of planarian flatworms to regenerate their parts of their bodies in a few days. The mechanism includes repatterning, proportioning and studying the rate of cell death.
2. What is the process of blastema?
Ans. Amphibians can regenerate their limbs by forming their limbs throughout their lives. The blastema forms a thickening of epidermis closing the wound. Blastema cells are derived by cells from tissues by histolysis and dedifferentiation and also through stem cells from the muscle.
Key Features of Morphallaxis
There are various environmental factors affecting morphallaxis. They are internal and external, like temperature, pH, excretory substances, etc.
Morphallaxis is observed in many lower animals and occurs as a result of an injury, bisection of an animal, etc.
Hydra can unravel several facets of their role in physiological regeneration in a much more complex system such as humans.
Hydra is the best example for plants where budding happens even from dissociated cells.
FAQs on Morphallaxis: Meaning, Process, and Applications
1. What is morphallaxis in simple terms?
Morphallaxis is a type of regeneration where an organism regrows a lost body part by reorganising its existing cells. Instead of creating many new cells, it remodels what is already there to form a smaller, but complete, version of itself.
2. What is a classic example of morphallaxis?
The best-known example of morphallaxis is seen in Hydra. If you cut a Hydra into several pieces, each piece can reorganise its existing tissues and cells to regenerate into a new, complete (but smaller) Hydra, often without needing significant new cell growth.
3. What is the main difference between morphallaxis and epimorphosis?
The key difference is how the new parts are formed. Here's a simple breakdown:
- Morphallaxis: Involves the reorganisation and re-patterning of existing cells. The remaining part of the body is essentially remodelled.
- Epimorphosis: Involves the growth of new structures from a mass of undifferentiated cells (called a blastema) that forms at the wound. This process relies heavily on new cell division. A lizard regrowing its tail is an example of epimorphosis.
4. How does the process of morphallaxis actually work?
Morphallaxis works by changing the identity and position of existing cells. When an organism like a Hydra is cut, the cells in the remaining piece receive signals to re-differentiate and reorganise. They move around and change their roles to form the missing structures, like a head or a foot, rebuilding the organism's complete body plan from the available material.
5. Why is morphallaxis considered regeneration with little new cell growth?
Morphallaxis is primarily about remodelling existing tissue, not creating large amounts of new tissue through cell division. The main work is done by transforming the remaining body part into a complete, miniature version. This focus on reorganisation is why it is distinct from other forms of regeneration that depend on massive cell proliferation to grow new parts.
6. Do plants also show morphallaxis?
Yes, a process similar to morphallaxis can be seen in some plants. For example, when a piece of a plant like a begonia leaf is cut and placed in a suitable environment, it can regenerate a whole new plant. The existing cells in the leaf cutting reorganise themselves to form new roots and shoots, much like the cellular reorganisation seen in animals like Hydra.
7. Why are organisms like Hydra studied to understand immortality?
Hydra is studied for insights into biological immortality because its body is in a constant state of self-renewal. Through morphallaxis and its powerful stem cells, it doesn't just repair damage; it continuously replaces its old cells. This means it avoids the process of ageing, making it a perfect model for scientists to understand how cellular repair and regeneration can work.
8. What is the main disadvantage or limitation of morphallaxis?
A major limitation of morphallaxis is that the newly regenerated organism is often smaller than the original parent. This happens because it is formed from only a fragment of the parent's body, using only the existing cells. The new organism must then eat and grow to reach its full size. This type of regeneration is also typically limited to simpler animals with less complex body plans.
