Microscope images + Diagrams + Photos + Slideshow
Male tail DIC
XX masculinized C. briggsae tra-2 mutant
imaged with DIC microscopy. Courtesy of Carlos Carvalho (CARVALHO LAB) from the C. elegans Worm Art Show, 2005.
Early embryo development over time
Early embryonic development (metaphase in mitosis) over time, from upper left to lower right with tubulin (microtubules) labeled, showing the elongation of the mitotic spindle prior to the first cell division. Courtesy of Ahna Skop, Skop Lab.
Spermatozoa
Matured C. elegans sperm cells (spermatozoa) by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The knobby projections to the right of the cell are called a pseudopod, which the cell uses to crawl. See also TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) image of C. elegans sperm cells.
Nerve system labeled with GFP
C. elegans nerve system is labeled with GFP to show the neuronal interconnectivity. C. elegans has a simple and well-defined nerve system that includes 302 neurons. See also more information on C. elegans neuron research. Courtesy of the C. elegans Worm Art Show.
DAPI staining
A C. elegans with nuclei (DNA) labeled (DAPI stained). Each colored spot (light blue) represents a cell of the C. elegans.
Basic 4D Digital Microscopy Setup
This is the basic setup that researchers used to make the movies on this site. Image from DeVries, J.H., Thomas, C., White, J. (1996). Four-Dimensional Imaging: Computer Visualization of 3D Movements in Living Specimens. Science, 273, 603-607.
Wild type and mutants
This figure shows one wild type (in upper left corner) and 5 locomotion defect worms. As you can see, the moving patten of mutants is different from wild type. This is to show how locomotion defect can affect worms’ motion.
C. elegans lineage hand drawing by John Sulston
This was recorded over a period of two hours. Sulston, E. J., (2002). C. elegans: The cell lineage and beyond. Nobel Lecture, (Dec 8, 2002), retrieved 12/15/2003, from http://nobelprize.org/medicine/laureates/2002/sulston-lecture.pdf.
Multiphoton Fluorescence Excitation Microscopy (MPFE)
Multiphoton fluorescence excitation microscope image of a C. elegans cell.
Differential Interference Contrast (DIC; Nomarski)
Differential Interference Contrast/Nomarski image of a C. elegans cell.
Random Worm Term
molecule and associated proteins wrapped into a high order structure. During mitosis, chromosomes condense into compact structures visible in the light microscope. In prokaryotes, a single circular double-stranded DNA molecule constitutes the bulk of the genetic material.