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Scientists from Tufts University have published a study  involving flatworms, which have been used to grow heads and brains of alternate flatworm species. However, their genetics were not changed.

The findings  reveal that "the genome does not hardwire head shape and can be overridden through the manipulation of bioelectrical networks in the body," according to hngn.

It is well-known that the brain's networks can alter its information through electrical synapses, but this is the first time the knowledge has been used to make one species grow characteristics of another,

"It is commonly thought that the sequence and structure of chromatin - material that makes up chromosomes - determine the shape of an organism, but these results show that the function of physiological networks can override the species-specific default anatomy," said Michael Levin, senior author of the study.

Hence, with the Girardia dorotocephala, the scientists developed head shapes particular to alternate species of flatforms. They interrupted gap junctions, and used protein channels to enable cells to pass electrical communication signals. These helped to not only alter the head shape of the worm but even how the adult stem cells are distributed.

"By modulating the connectivity of cells via electrical synapses, we were able to derive head morphology and brain patterning belonging to a completely different species from an animal with a normal genome," Levin said.

This is a breakthrough, which can help biologists learn how to address birth defects and even grow new, damaged body parts.

"These findings raise significant questions about how genes and bioelectric networks interact to build complex body structures," said Levin.