The laboratory domestication of Caenorhabditis elegans

Mark G Sterken, L Basten Snoek, Jan E Kammenga, Erik C Andersen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Model organisms are of great importance to our understanding of basic biology and to making advances in biomedical research. However, the influence of laboratory cultivation on these organisms is underappreciated, and especially how that environment can affect research outcomes. Recent experiments led to insights into how the widely used laboratory reference strain of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans compares with natural strains. Here we describe potential selective pressures that led to the fixation of laboratory-derived alleles for the genes npr-1, glb-5, and nath-10. These alleles influence a large number of traits, resulting in behaviors that affect experimental interpretations. Furthermore, strong phenotypic effects caused by these laboratory-derived alleles hinder the discovery of natural alleles. We highlight strategies to reduce the influence of laboratory-derived alleles and to harness the full power of C. elegans.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)224-31
Number of pages8
JournalTrends in Genetics
Volume31
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adaptation, Biological
  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Gene-Environment Interaction
  • Genetic Variation
  • Models, Animal
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

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