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BISC 219/2009: Mod 1 C. elegans General Information: Difference between revisions
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BISC 219/2009: Mod 1 C. elegans General Information (view source)
Revision as of 10:25, 20 May 2009
, 20 May 2009→Introduction to Caenorhabditis elegans
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The nervous system of ''C. elegans'' consists of approximately 300 neurons, including a circumpharyngeal nerve ring, dorsal and ventral nerve cords, and a variety of sensory receptors and ganglia. About 70% of the neurons are located in the head. Sense organs (sensilla) are arranged in two concentric rings around the mouth and include both chemoreceptors and mechanoreceptors. ''C. elegans'' exhibits chemotaxis to a number of compounds. It also responds to a tap on the head by moving backwards, and then turning to move forward in a different direction.<br> | The nervous system of ''C. elegans'' consists of approximately 300 neurons, including a circumpharyngeal nerve ring, dorsal and ventral nerve cords, and a variety of sensory receptors and ganglia. About 70% of the neurons are located in the head. Sense organs (sensilla) are arranged in two concentric rings around the mouth and include both chemoreceptors and mechanoreceptors. ''C. elegans'' exhibits chemotaxis to a number of compounds. It also responds to a tap on the head by moving backwards, and then turning to move forward in a different direction.<br> | ||
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''C. elegans'' generally reproduces as a self-fertilizing hermaphrodite, with each animal producing BOTH sperm and eggs. Two reflexed gonadal arms, each of which contains an ovary, oviduct, spermatheca, and uterus, terminate at the vulva, located midway along the ventral side. The mature hermaphrodite is effectively a female in which the gonad has earlier made and stored sperm before turning to the production of oocytes. Eggs (developing embryos) are fertilized by endogenous sperm and undergo some of their development inside the parental hermaphrodite. Embryos are arranged in sequence along the uterus with the most developed ones nearest the vulva. Fertilized eggs are covered with a chitinous shell and deposited on the agar surface. The entire life cycle takes about 3 1/2 days at 20°C with each adult hermaphrodite producing 250-350 progeny. | ''C. elegans'' generally reproduces as a self-fertilizing hermaphrodite, with each animal producing BOTH sperm and eggs. Two reflexed gonadal arms, each of which contains an ovary, oviduct, spermatheca, and uterus, terminate at the vulva, located midway along the ventral side. The mature hermaphrodite is effectively a female in which the gonad has earlier made and stored sperm before turning to the production of oocytes. Eggs (developing embryos) are fertilized by endogenous sperm and undergo some of their development inside the parental hermaphrodite. Embryos are arranged in sequence along the uterus with the most developed ones nearest the vulva. Fertilized eggs are covered with a chitinous shell and deposited on the agar surface. The entire life cycle takes about 3 1/2 days at 20°C with each adult hermaphrodite producing 250-350 progeny.<br> | ||
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