ABSTRACT
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Nonmammalian model organisms such as Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, zebrafish, and the plant Arabidopsis provide numerous experimental advantages for defining the molecular bases of complex
physiological processes. C. elegans provides a particularly striking example of the experimental utility of nonmammalian model organisms (reviewed in Ref. [1]).
Worms have a short life cycle, produce large numbers of offspring by sexual
reproduction, and can be cultured easily and inexpensively in the laboratory. Sexual
reproduction occurs by self-fertilization in hermaphrodites or by mating with males.
The reproductive and laboratory culture characteristics of C. elegans make it an exceptionally powerful model system for forward genetic analysis.
