DEV3011 Lecture 5: C. elegans

Flashcards covering key concepts and terminology related to the use of C elegans as a model organism in biological research.

Model Organism

A species studied to understand biological phenomena with the expectation that discoveries can be translated into other species.

C elegans

A free living nematode used as a fundamental model organism for studying aspects of human biology.

Hermaphrodite

C elegans individual that possesses both male and female reproductive organs, predominating in the population.

Lifespan

The length of life of an organism, which in C elegans is approximately 2-3 weeks.

Genome Size

C elegans has a genome size around 1/30 of that of humans, containing approximately 20,000 genes.

Autosomes

The non-sex chromosomes; C elegans has five pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death, a process studied using C elegans which has contributed to significant genetic research.

Transformation

A technique in genetic research where DNA is introduced into an organism's cells, crucial for C elegans research.

CRISPR

A technology used for gene editing; in C elegans, it allows for precise modifications of the genome.

Forward Mutagenesis

A method used to identify genes by creating mutations and observing resultant phenotypes.

Embryogenesis

The developmental process from a fertilized egg to a fully developed organism, observable in C elegans.

Dauer Larvae

A specialized larvae stage of C elegans that develops under stress conditions, known for its stress resistance.

Nobel Prize

An award received by researchers for significant contributions in their field; C elegans research has led to three such prizes.

Gene Expression Studies

Research aimed at understanding how and when genes are activated in an organism, frequently conducted in C elegans.

Transcriptional Reporter

A type of genetic construct used to study gene expression where a promoter drives the expression of a marker gene.

Translational Reporter

A genetic construct that combines a promoter and the gene of interest fused with a marker gene, allowing localization studies.

Connectome

The comprehensive map of neural connections in an organism, extensively detailed for C elegans.

Insulin Signaling

A cellular signaling pathway involved in regulating development and lifespan, significant in C elegans studies.

TGF-beta Signaling

A signaling pathway influencing various developmental processes; studied for its role in C elegans.