Caenorhabditis elegans

Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won this year’s Physiology or Medicine award for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.

Flies, worms, and fish with rapid development and characterized genetics help scientists uncover fundamental and universal biological processes, and shape cutting-edge research across disciplines.

A trio of proteins are key building blocks for genetic exchange.

Researchers discovered that chilling worms on ice slows down forgetting, prompting an exploration into the pathway responsible for this cool phenomenon.

Increasing mitochondrial activity in worms by engineering a light-activated proton pump into the organelle’s membrane extends the animals’ lifespan without evidence of health decline, according to a preprint.

By viewing countless hours of expectorating worms, researchers discover a unique way in which neurons control the movement of muscles.

The roundworm uses cues from visible light to help avoid eating toxic bacteria with a distinguishing hue.

A single-cell map of C. elegans’s transcriptome during development finds cell lineages that start out genetically different and end up as cells of similar function and genetic profile.

Researchers recovered eight species from the salty, alkaline environment—increasing the known biodiversity of animals in the California lake five-fold.

Worms with the reproduction-related TCER-1 gene deleted could fight off infection for longer and survived better when exposed to heat and radiation.

Unsuccessful attempts to reproduce the results of a 2015 study reporting that C. elegans orient themselves by Earth’s magnetic field spark debate among researchers.

A heat map of gene expression provides insights on the genes that help C. elegans survive severe caloric restriction.  

When it comes to thwarting roundworms, scientists find that combining four antiparasitic drugs in smaller doses packs a greater punch than the four drugs alone.

E. coli that make indoles protect older worms, flies, and mice from frailty. 

Food restriction decreases a metabolite that impedes associative learning in worms.