24-11-2025
The MSc Thesis of Francisco, entitled “Ultraviolet radiation effects in the regenerative ability of planarians and starfish: gene expression and tissue pathophysiology” was developed within the SeaTox Lab at the Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology.
His thesis investigated how UV-C radiation affects regeneration in protostome vs. deuterostome marineanimals, using a planarian (Leptoplana sp.) vs. a starfish (Asterina gibbosa ) as animal models. UV-C severelydisrupted planarian regeneration, impairing neoblast differentiation and blastema formation, and inducinghyperpigmentation, necrosis and mortality, while starfish showed slower but more resilient regeneration, with no UV-Ceffects detected on DNA integrity, PCNA gene expression or oxidative stress, suggesting effective protectivemechanisms against DNA damage. The study highlights the crucial interplay between genomic stability, stem-celldynamics, and tissue organization for successful regeneration in metazoans, providing insights relevant toregenerative biology and biomedical research.
Congratulations Francisco!