Flatworms and Human Interaction

Parasites cause the vast majority of human interactions with flatworms. Flukes and tapeworms are the two groups of parasitic flatworms. And many can infect people sometimes causing disease.

Medical

Planaria are used as models for research. They are especially suited to test the toxicity of various chemicals. And they are also used as a model in neurological research.

Planaria are expert at regenerating. Here is a video about the processes that govern regeneration in planaria to understand if those processes can be replicated to help regenerate parts of the human body.

Flatworm and Human Interaction Videos

Tapeworm Animation
Without eyes or mouths, tapeworms are amazingly successful.

General Info

  • Book with pencil

Role in Ecosystem

  • Bee with arrows around it

Climate

  • Thermometer and waves

Human Interaction

  • Human next to globe

Paleontology

  • Skull of dinosaur
  • Lesson Plan
    Who Was "Hunter Eve?"
    The paleontological evidence of the first animal to hunt is tiny trails that have been fossilized in rocks. To start this lesson, students will consider the tracks and traces left by modern animals and what they can learn about an animal from its tracks. They then think about which animal might have been the first hunter. The class considers what it takes to be a hunter and what kind of evidence can we use to figure out what was the first hunter. Students write their ideas in their science notebooks and the teacher shares the ideas with the entire class.

    Full Lesson Plan

All Flatworms Lesson Plans