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Nematodes are cool! Don’t just take my word for it – listen to the SciShow. And as you watch the video, you should know that SB347 was the name of Auanema rhodensis before it got its genus species name in 2017 – and those tough nematodes from Mono Lake are Auanema species as well!
At the level of genes and proteins, C. elegans are not that different from humans. 65% of human disease genes have a counterpart in C. elegans. 83% of the worm proteome has human homologous genes. Paired with its many experimental assets, C. elegans is an important model system for biomedical research.
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There are many advantages to studying gametogenesis in C. elegans: 1) Large gonad (light and dark blue), 2) Transparent body, 3) Only 3 days from embryo to fertile adult, and 4) Self-fertile hermaphrodites produce about ~100 embryos per day!