ABSTRACT
Nematodes are multicellular, appendageless, nonsegmented, wormlike invertebrates containing a complete digestive tract. However, there are certainly species of nematodes involved in pest control, both entomogenous and plant-parasites, that are prime candidates, and attempts have already been made with representatives of the former group. This chapter provides an outline of the various genetic engineering pathways for nematodes. The employment of genetic engineering, which is understood as the experimental alteration of the genetic constitution of an individual, has been previously attempted with metazoan animals along the lines of genetic selection. Among the insect parasites, of which there are many representatives from several families in nature, the desire and ability to conduct genetic engineering is, at present, limited to members of two families, the Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae.
