free living parasitic transparent length lives temperate soil environments blend greek recent rod like latin elegant initially named placed subgenus raised status genus lacks respiratory system possesses gut brilliant blue wave seen death death majority males specialised tails mating include proposed research primarily area development began research molecular developmental biology extensively model organism organism organism completed anatomy symmetrical cuticle tough outer covering main fluid filled body cavity organ systems larger animals thousand individuals male rest basic anatomy includes mouth cuticle like respiratory system bands muscles run length body connected system allows muscles animal body dorsal bending ventral bending left right head muscle wired independently wave dorsal ventral muscle proceeds animal animal propelled backwards wave initiated proceeds body animal propelled forwards dorsal ventral bias body bends normal living moving individual tends lie left right observed crossing horizontal surface set ridges lateral sides body cuticle believed animal added traction bending motions muscular food pump head triangular cross section food transports directly set valve cells connects valve operates understood contents released direct connection exists canal functions release liquid males single tail specialized mating incorporates single numerous gut present functions fully known aspects despite years studied gut found orders similar feature acidic interior capacity considerably larger reinforcing view storage remarkable feature observed light react intense blue phenomenon seen termed death worms die dramatic burst blue emitted death typically takes place anterior posterior wave moves seen young old worms subjected lethal injury peacefully dying old age theories functions gut earlier ones eliminated later findings thought store functions recent chemical analysis identified blue material contain form acid need large amounts gut contain questioned possibility defense invading possibility provide bursts conversion damaging light relatively harmless visible light seen possible link containing reproduction development cells arise single cell called cell established early cell divides generate cells divide hatching considered specialized form self fertile female female produces male lays eggs internal environmental conditions favourable reproduction hatched larvae develop stages designated conditions stressed food enter alternative stage called state german permanent larvae stress resistant thin mouths sealed food remain stage months produce sperm stage sperm arm produce sperm cells stored area pushes sperm chamber sperm male use male sperm types sperm stored sperm lacking self wild type worm lay eggs male number exceed laboratory strain average lifespan weeks generation time days fixed genetically determined number cells phenomenon known male example cells number change cell division end period growth solely increase size individual cells pairs pair sex sex based sex determination system matched pair sex rare males sex ecology different species occupy bacteria rich environments feed bacteria develop decaying organic matter soil lacks organic matter support self sustaining populations survive diet variety kinds bacteria wild ecology largely unknown laboratory strains taken artificial environments gardens piles recently found thrive kinds organic matter particularly rotting fruit invertebrates insects transport larvae suitable locations larvae seen feed hosts die survive mechanism capability demonstrated late abundant proteins eaten predator including insects research use proposed model organism investigation primarily development animals simplest organisms nervous system system comprises pattern mapped known shown small world network research explored molecular mechanisms control behaviors including learning memory mating behaviour chose easy grow bulk populations convenient genetic analysis organism simple studied great detail transparency study cellular developmental processes intact organism male clearly distinguish males females strains cheap breed frozen subsequently remain viable allowing long term storage notable findings developmental fate single cell adult adult male mapped patterns cell lineage largely individuals mammals cell development dependent cellular cues embryo cell divisions early best understood examples cell divisions programmed cell death additional cells contributed genes cell death promoting genes single cell death identified interference relatively straightforward method disrupting function specific genes function gene allow researcher possible function soaked injected fed genetically transformed bacteria express double stranded interest sequence sequence gene researcher wishes disable emerged powerful tool study functional gene functions report claims promise future findings systematic genetic interactions environmental worse species worms genus body cavity animal gene species related bacteria eat ability mapped single gene inserted species allows research considerably simplified cell nucleus given position moves stage early phase extremely resistant radiation resistance depends expression genes key roles repair gene plays crucial role repair dna damage study frequency natural populations showed predominant mode reproduction events occur rate result unlikely contribute significantly beneficial genetic provide benefit repair dna damages arise especially conditions dependence studied exhibits responses parallel mammals responses include acute response tolerance withdrawal model organisms scientists work field dedicated online database attempts published information related website advertised reward new species closely related discovery research opportunities worm model organism research example like growth factor signaling shown increase adult lifespan extensive research identified binding proteins essential factors early development notable animal sleep studies primitive organism display sleep like states phase occurs shortly research news specimens discovered survived space shuttle columbia disaster february later january live samples announced spending weeks october space research project explore effects zero gravity muscle development physiology research primarily genetic basis muscle relates bed ridden descendants worms aboard columbia launched space mission organism sequence published small gaps present gap finished october million base pairs long consists mitochondrial gene density gene base pairs regions genes arranged clusters unclear currently known include notably primitive organisms likely shown contains estimated protein genes genes human remarkably human genes shown repeatedly replace introduced conversely genes function similarly genes number known genes increased greatly discovery new class genes believed contain genes scientific continue set known genes new gene models continue added incorrect ones modified removed sequence related determined allowing researchers study comparative organisms sequences genus named studied shotgun technique sequences completed reference sequence continues change new evidence reveals errors original changes minor adding removing base pairs dna example release april added base pairs sequence extensive changes noted release december added region sequence scientific community nobel prize physiology medicine awarded work organ development programmed cell death nobel prize physiology medicine awarded discovery interference shared nobel prize chemistry work green protein research involved use scientists research closely connect research field began 1970s worked researcher lab lab previously worked worked lab later established worm research creating fairly documented lineage scientists recorded database detail international worm meeting
Caenorhabditis elegans