ABSTRACT
Regeneration is the potential to repair and replace cells, tissues, organs and systems of an organism. In 1898, Morgan classified regeneration into two types: Morphallaxis involving remodeling the existing tissues into missing ones without extensive cell proliferation; Epimorphosis involving massive proliferation of undifferentiated cells and stem cells. Echinoderms represent a phylum with exceptional autotomic and regenerative potentials. Among aquatic invertebrates, echinoderms display an amazing ability to undergo autotomy and regeneration. Whereas the autotomic incidence is limited to 204 species, their prevalence within populations of each autotomic species is high and varies widely. Though much information is available on the prevalence of clonal fission, less information is available on the prevalence of evisceration in holothuroids. Autotomic echinoderms are readily amenable to chemical/surgical manipulations and electrical stimulations. Being an epimorphic process, regeneration in autotomic echinoderms involves extensive proliferation of cells resulting in growth and differentiation of internal and external tissues, organs and systems.
