RNA sequencing in the freshwater planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis

RNA sequencing was performed to study gene expression patterns associated with asexual and sexual modes of reproduction in the freshwater planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis. Three types of worms were used in this project, namely asexual worms and two types of sexual worms (Kobayashi, et al., Zoological Science, vol. 29: 265-272. 2012), as described in the following. (1) Asexual worm: an exclusively asexual strain, the OH strain. (2) Acquired sexual worm: the experimentally sexualized worms of the OH strain. (3) Innate sexual worm: the inbred sexual offspring of the acquired sexual worms. All worms were fed with chicken liver for at least 1 year prior to the experiment.