The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism

Biologists aim to understand fundamental life principles: how organisms function, grow, develop, digest food, sense their environment, interact with other species, and evolve. Over the past century, their methods have evolved, shifting from observing organisms in nature to studying them in controlled laboratory settings.

Model organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals that are easy to grow in labs, are central to modern biology. One key model organism is the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, which has provided insights into basic biological processes. These findings benefit not only biologists but society at large, as they often reveal principles important for medicine and human health.