General Characteristics of C. elegans |
|
Habitat | Lives in soil and can be found throughout the world. |
Feed | Is non parasitic. Feeds on bacteria, or anything that fits into its mouth. |
Adult Size | It is transparent and is about 1 mm in length. |
Sexes | Hermaphrodite and male |
Fertilization | Hermaphrodites  can self-fertilize or cross with males. However, hermaphrodites cannot fertilize another hermaphrodite. Males can only cross with hermaphrodites. |
Reproduction Rate | From hermaphrodite X hermaphrodite: about 300 eggs. From hermaphrodites X males : more than 300 eggs. |
Life Cycle | From Egg -> Embryo -> L1 (Larva1)-> L2 -> L3 -> L4 -> Adult Worm -> Egg takes about 3 days. |
Life Span | About 3 weeks |
Nickname | Worm |
Some Components in an Embryo
![Cell with spindle highlighted]()
A cell with spindle
highlighted
![Spindle and two poles]()
(source: Gerald Harp, Cell Biology)