Caenorhabditis elegans as a biological model

Abstract

Caenorhabditis elegans is a free-living harmless transparent nematode. it has been extensively used as a biological model. It was the first multicellular organism to have genome completely sequenced and 40% of its genes have human matches. This soil nematode offered great potential for genetic analysis, partly because of its rapid (3-day) life cycle, small size (1.5-mm-long adult), and ease of laboratory cultivation. It is an important model system for biological research in many fields including genomics, cell biology, neuroscience and aging. Compared to the use of other model organisms, such as mice, the short life cycle of C. elegans reduces the experimental cycle and facilitates biological study. The mature “female,” has precisely 959 somatic cells and the mature male, includes precisely 1031 somatic cells. As an invertebrate experimental system, it is now second only to Drosophila melanogaster in terms of convenience and popularity. Its transparency and the generation of multiple progeny have made the worm an attractive model for studies, including those on developmental and reproductive behavior. The properties of C. elegans and the research done using C. elegans provide a wealth of information and an attractive pool of resources for researchers.