Acoel genome reveals the regulatory landscape of whole-body regeneration

Acoel-regeneration regulatory landscapes Some animals, including some types of worms, can undergo whole-body regeneration and replace virtually any missing cell type. Gehrke et al. sequenced and assembled the genome of Hofstenia miamia , a regenerative acoel worm species (see the Perspective by Alonge and Schatz). They identified a variable motif corresponding to regulation of the early growth response ( egr ) gene that was involved in regeneration. RNA interference experiments and validation in a second species showed that the protein Egr is a pioneer factor that stimulates regeneration. Science , this issue p. eaau6173 ; see also p. 1152