what are two characteristics that make c. elegans a good model organism
Caenorhabditis elegans
In 1963 , Sydney Brenner proposed using C. elegans as a model organism for the investigation primarily of neural development in animals . It is one of the simplest organisms with a nervous system . The neurons do not fire action potentials , and do not express any voltage - gated ion channels . In the hermaphrodite , this system comprises 302 neurons the pattern of which has been comprehensively mapped , in what is known as a connectome , and shown to be a small - world network . Research has explored the neural and molecular mechanisms that control several behaviors of C. elegans , including chemotaxis , thermotaxis , mechanotransduction , learning , memory , and mating behaviour . Brenner also chose it as it is easy to grow in bulk populations , and convenient for genetic analysis . It is a multicellular eukaryotic organism , yet is simple enough to be studied in great detail . The transparency of C. elegans facilitates the study of cellular differentiation and other developmental processes in the intact organism . The spicules in the male clearly distinguish males from females . Strains are cheap to breed and can be frozen . When subsequently thawed , they remain viable , allowing long - term storage . Maintenance is easy when compared to other multicellular model organisms , a few hundred nematodes can be kept on a single agar plate and suitable growth medium . Brenner described the use of a mutant of E. Coli -- OP50 . OP50 is a uracil - requiring organism and its deficiency in the plate prevents the overgrowth of bacteria which would obscure the worms . 
In 1963 , Sydney Brenner proposed using C. elegans as a model organism for the investigation primarily of neural development in animals . It is one of the simplest organisms with a nervous system . The neurons do not fire action potentials , and do not express any voltage - gated ion channels . In the hermaphrodite , this system comprises 302 neurons the pattern of which has been comprehensively mapped , in what is known as a connectome , and shown to be a small - world network . Research has explored the neural and molecular mechanisms that control several behaviors of C. elegans , including chemotaxis , thermotaxis , mechanotransduction , learning , memory , and mating behaviour . Brenner also chose it as it is easy to grow in bulk populations , and convenient for genetic analysis . It is a multicellular eukaryotic organism , yet is simple enough to be studied in great detail . The transparency of C. elegans facilitates the study of cellular differentiation and other developmental processes in the intact organism . The spicules in the male clearly distinguish males from females . Strains are cheap to breed and can be frozen . When subsequently thawed , they remain viable , allowing long - term storage . Maintenance is easy when compared to other multicellular model organisms , a few hundred nematodes can be kept on a single agar plate and suitable growth medium . Brenner described the use of a mutant of E. Coli -- OP50 . OP50 is a uracil - requiring organism and its deficiency in the plate prevents the overgrowth of bacteria which would obscure the worms .
Sydney Brenner proposed using C. elegans as a model organism for the investigation primarily of neural development in animals. It is one of the simplest organisms with a nervous system. Brenner also chose it as it is easy to grow in bulk populations, and convenient for genetic analysis. It is a multicellular eukaryotic organism , yet is simple enough to be studied in great detail.
In 1963 , Sydney Brenner proposed using C. elegans as a model organism for the investigation primarily of neural development in animals . It is one of the simplest organisms with a nervous system . Brenner also chose it as it is easy to grow in bulk populations , and convenient for genetic analysis . It is a multicellular eukaryotic organism , yet is simple enough to be studied in great detail .