A Transparent window into biology: A primer on Caenorhabditis elegans

摘要: A little over 50 years ago, Sydney Brenner had the foresight to develop nematode (round worm) Caenorhabditis elegans as a genetic model for understanding questions of developmental biology and neurobiology. Over time, research on C. has expanded explore wealth diverse areas in modern including studies basic functions interactions eukaryotic cells, host-parasite interactions, evolution. also become an important organism which study processes that go awry human diseases. This primer introduces many features make it outstanding experimental system, its small size, rapid life cycle, transparency, well-annotated genome. We survey anatomical features, common technical approaches, discoveries research. Key studying been ability address biological problems genetically, using both forward reverse genetics, at level entire single, identified cell. These possibilities useful not only laboratories, but classroom where can be used excite students who actually see what is happening inside live cells tissues.