Caenorhabditis elegans as research animal model

Abstract

Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a non-parasitic nematode widely used as an animal model in scientific research. It is a multicellular organism with simple tissues and anatomy, reaching a fixed number of cells in its adult stage, 959, of which 302 are neurons [1]. It is precisely its simplicity that gives it great value as an animal model. The simplicity of this nematode facilitates the understanding of complex cellular signaling pathways in mammals, such as neurodegenerative processes, the biochemical mechanisms of which in more evolved animals remain a subject of debate [2]. Furthermore, the genome of C. elegans is completely sequenced, making it a powerful tool for genetic studies, as more than 60% of its genes are orthologous to human disease genes [3]. Other advantages of its use in research include its easy handling, small size (1 mm in adulthood), high brood size, short life cycle (20 days), transparency, and modest economic costs. Due to these advantages, C. elegans is widely used in various research fields such as genetics, development, metabolism, neurodegeneration, and aging, among others [4-8]. C. elegans is a powerful tool in the development of basic research that undoubtedly supports clinical research, providing simple and effective models for the study of complex biological processes, human diseases, and potential treatments.