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

Many aspects of gene function that have been studied extensively in prokaryotes pertain to eukaryotes as well.  However, prokaryotic cells cannot be used to investigate the many questions specific to the biology of higher organisms.  Chromosome structure and the development of a complex anatomy are key examples.  The small, free-living soil nematode, ''C. elegans'', is a convenient model system in which to approach basic questions concerning the genetic control of development and behavior in multicellular organisms.  The animal's short life cycle is advantageous for genetic study, and at the same time it is small enough to allow complete anatomical studies at the ultrastructural level.  A synopsis of the major attributes of ''C. elegans'' is given below.   The two worm/web meccas are: [http://elegans.swmed.edu/ Leon Avery's ''C. elegans'' server] it’s perfect for virtually any worm detail you would need and [http://www.wormbase.org/ Wormbase] an interactive web site for all your worm gene needs. <br>

''C. elegans'' is easily and inexpensively grown in the laboratory in liquid medium or on the surface of agar-filled petri dishes, feeding on ''Escherichia coli''.  Adults are about 1 millimeter in length, with a tubular body consisting of a hypodermal wall and an underlying musculature that encloses the digestive and reproductive organs. Although ''C. elegans'' has most major types of differentiated tissue (nerve, muscle, hypodermis, intestine, and gonad), adults contain only 959 somatic cells. <br>