C. elegans worm

Source: This post on World Bank Report Highlights Poverty and Climate Challenges has been created based on the article “Extreme weather obstacle to an equitable world, as 3.53 billion people continue to live in poverty” published in Down to Earth on 21st October 2024.

Why in news?

Sydney Brenner who is a pioneer of C. elegans research, won the first Nobel Prize involving the worm.

Nobel Prize Contributions

C. elegans research has led to four Nobel Prizes across various fields:

1. 2002 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: Research using C. elegans helped scientists understand the process of programmed cell death, or apoptosis, which is critical in diseases like AIDS, strokes, and neurodegenerative disorders.

2. 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: Studies on C. elegans led to the discovery of gene silencing through RNA interference, a breakthrough that paved the way for new therapeutic strategies.

3. 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Scientists used the worm in the development of “cellular lanterns” that enabled researchers to visualize cellular processes in real-time, advancing molecular biology techniques.

4. 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: Molecular biologist Gary Ruvkun, while accepting the award, acknowledged C. elegans for its role in his groundbreaking work on microRNAs, which regulate gene expression.

About Caenorhabditis elegans

1. Caenorhabditis elegans is a tiny 1-millimeter-long nematode that has played a significant role in scientific discovery, contributing to four Nobel Prize-winning studies.

2. It is a free-living, transparent nematode (roundworm) widely used as a model organism in molecular biology and developmental biology research.

3. Key characteristics of C. elegans include:

i) Genome: Its genome is fully sequenced, with about 20,000 genes, many of which have homologs in humans.

ii) Rapid Life Cycle: It has a short life cycle of about 3 days from egg to adult, making it ideal for genetic studies.

iii) Hermaphroditism: It can reproduce both through self-fertilization (as a hermaphrodite) and through sexual reproduction (with males).

iv) C. elegans was key in discovering the mechanism of programmed cell death (apoptosis), a vital process in development and disease.

v) C. elegans is highly regarded for its contributions to our understanding of neurobiology, development, aging, and genetics.

Experimental Advantages of C. elegans

C. elegans offers several advantages that make it an ideal experimental organism:

i) Simplicity: The worm consists of just 959 cells, each of which scientists have meticulously mapped from fertilization to death.

ii) Transparency: Its translucent body allows researchers to observe developmental stages under a microscope in as little as three days.

iii) Genome Sequencing: C. elegans was the first animal to have its genome fully sequenced in 1998, a milestone achieved before other model organisms like flies and mice.

iv) Self-Sufficiency: Female C. elegans are hermaphroditic, possessing both eggs and sperm, which allows them to self-fertilize and reproduce efficiently.

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