C. elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans

These features have helped to make C. elegans a powerful model of choice for eukaryotic genetic studies

Features that greatly facilitate the maintenance of C. elegans stocks

1. Self-fertilization (often referred to as selfing) simplifies maintaining stocks because a single animal can give rise to an entire population

Mutant-like phenotypes can also be obtained using RNA interference (RNAi)

• The use of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to reduce gene activity

  • Can soak the animals in a soltion of dsRNA

  • Or by feeding the animals bacter that generate specific dsRNA

• Feeding it by bacteria is preferred because it's not a one time exposure, and the bacteria continue to produce

F33H1.4   gene

lin-35   strain

• Does NOT have the DREAM Complex

• Weak strain, it takes 7 days to complete a cycle