The researchers at the Forsyth Institute (Boston, Mass.), while using the flatworm planaria in the investigative study have come out with an imperative apparatus regarding the controlling of the activities of adult stem cells, in particular with the introduction of a new role for the proteins that get involved in cell-to-cell communication. In addition, it has also been anticipated that the new discovery in turn has the potential to help the scientists in ascertaining the nature of the messages that remain in charge of the stem cell regulation that includes the message that sustains and proffers a stem cell to specialize and also to become a part of the liver or skin. However, it is to be noted that in the recent years the planarians have been recognized as expected as a great system of replica to molecularly slice up conserved stem cell regulatory mechanisms in vivo. It is due to the aspect that the planarians have influential ability of renewal making them ideal for the effective examination of this procedure.

While having a discussion with the most prominent author of the paper Dr. Nйstor J. Oviedo, a postdoctoral researcher in the Forsyth Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology it has been learnt that the investigative study emphasizes the significance of direct cell-cell transfer of small molecules between stem cells and their neighbors. It in addition makes available an imperative sketch for erudition about the necessity of regeneration. According to him in his own words,  "These findings suggest that similar mechanisms may be extraordinarily relevant for controlling the behavior of migratory, plastic cells. Further analysis in both planarians and in vertebrates will provide crucial opportunities for understanding what drives stem cell behavior and may help medical science identify novel therapeutic targets."

In the earlier stages of investigation this Forsyth team found that communication through gap-junctions (microscopic tunnels directly linking neighboring cells) happen to be in command of the left-right asymmetric stance of the internal organs for the period of embryonic development. But in this study the entire team was found in metamorphosing the role of junctional signals as regulators of adult stem cells in the mending of injury. The study had been effective in exhibiting   that at the time of the abolition of one of many specific gap junction channel types, the adult stem cell pool also disappeared along with the regenerative capabilities with a clear indication   that gap junction-permeable signals are essential for the proper maintenance of stem cell state and tissue regeneration.