Encyclopedia of Reproduction

Encyclopedia of Reproduction

E. Knobil and J. D. Neill, eds.

Caenorhabditis elegans

Dave Pilgrim

Dept. of Biological Sciences

University of Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9

Canada

---------

I. Introduction

II. Life Cycle

III. Anatomy

IV. Sexual System

IV.A. Reproduction

IV.B. Sexual Dimorphism

V. Development

V.A. Gonad development

V.B. Germ line development

VI. Sex Determination

VI.B. X Chromosome Dosage Compensation

VII. Behavior

VII.A. Male Mating Behavior

VII.B. Hermaphrodite Egg-laying Behavior

Caenorhabditis elegans is a free living soil nematode, about 1 mm in length, that is found around the world. It is currently a common laboratory model for many aspects of cellular, developmental and molecular biology. Its popularity comes from its transparency (allowing all nuclei to be followed in living animals at all stages of development), its anatomical simplicity (a thousand cells), its small genome (100 Mbp), an invariant somatic cell lineage, ease of laboratory culture, rapid generation time and a mode of reproduction which facilitates classical genetic analysis. An interested beginner needs only a petri plate, some E. coli and a stereo dissecting microscope to begin study of this fascinating creature.