BISC 219/2009: Mod 1 C. elegans General Information: Difference between revisions

''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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