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7 Things in Common with a Worm |
- Aging
Simple mutations in worms can double their normal lifespan, giving interesting models to study the molecular basis of aging. [more]
- Nervous System
Worms and humans share similar patterning and development of the nervous system and now researchers are using worms to model neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers. [more]
- Cell Fates
The fate of human embryonic cells is decided in a complex way and this process can be studied in the simpler system of C. elegans. The worm provides a predictable system to study human development because every cell has the same fate in every worm. A much more predictable system than human development. [more]
- Small Interfering RNAs
These tiny nucleic acid messages were first discovered in worms and are a potential therapeutic tool for gene therapy. [more]
- Space Flight
Worms have made several trips to space on NASA flights. Cool stuff! [more]
- Gene Number
Humans and C. elegans have almost the same amount of functional genes - a finding that surprised almost everyone! [more]
- Nicotine
Worms and mammals have similar responses to nicotine, including acute response, tolerance, withdrawal, and sensitization. [more]
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