2006-09-12 22:50:37 · 17 answers · asked by iansp4 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Contrary to popular belief, worms cannot reproduce by being cut into small pieces. However, they do have amazing healing powers. If you cut a worm in half, both sides will continue wiggling. The portion with the head may grow a new tail if the cut is after the segments that contain vital organs. The tail portion will continue to wiggle until the nerve cells die. The tail end will not grow a new head.
2006-09-12 23:00:46 · answer #1 · answered by CasperinMississippi 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You technically still only have one worm, but two half's of one.
you will find that if you do cut one in half (not that I am saying that's a nice thing to do) but one half will survive and the other will die.
This is prity much down to the fact that just like us a worm has an end (mouth you could call it) with a sucker, and the other is for the removal of waste.
And since its hard to reform a mouth, the end with just a "rear-end" tends to die
So to answer your question, you still have one worm which should be able to carry on living.
2006-09-13 15:24:36 · answer #2 · answered by jack o 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you cut a worm in half, below the 5 hearts in the head end, the head end will survive and regenenerate but the tail end will die.
2006-09-13 06:20:12 · answer #3 · answered by John C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im pretty sure both ends die. Occasionaly though the head end can live if its long enough and the earth worm is luck i guess.
This was from a reliable source but cannot remember exactly where from.
2006-09-13 06:02:48 · answer #4 · answered by @@@Marty@@@ 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on where you cut if the worm can live or die but you do not get two worms.
2006-09-13 06:06:09 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it depends on what type of worm it is. Some types can regrow into two different worms, some types will only have the head-half regrow, some types will just die...Not sure though.
2006-09-14 07:13:39 · answer #6 · answered by T Delfino 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You get one smaller worm, the head end survives and grows again. Although a star fish is mental, you can cut it into as many pieces as you want and as long as it has a part of the core(Middle) it will grow into a new star fish
2006-09-13 05:52:56 · answer #7 · answered by poli_b2001 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well... when I was a kid I was told that if you cut a Earthworm into half (why would you do that anyway) that the end with the head would survive. No idea if it's true.
2006-09-13 05:53:15 · answer #8 · answered by silverstarlightfairy99 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The head end that contains the vital organs such as it's 6 hearts will live and it will grow another tail.
2006-09-13 05:59:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The side with the head lives, believe it or not. It grows a new end and continues life normally!
2006-09-13 05:52:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋