Control of life-history trade-off by cis-regulatory mutation in eak-3
A new paper by Billard et al. (DOI: j.cub.2020.08.004) reports that a 92-bp deletion in eak-3 alters steroid hormone dafachronic acid (DA) signaling in C. elegans resulting in increased environmental sensitivity for dauer induction and delayed reproductive growth. The findings reveal the genetic basis of choice between somatic maintenance and reproductive growth in response to environmental variation.
Billard, B., Vigne, P. & Braendle, C. A. (2020). Natural Mutational Event Uncovers a Life History Trade-Off via Hormonal Pleiotropy. Curr Biol, vol. 30, 1–13, November 2, 2020.
Worms sleep when confined in microfluidic chambers
To find out how, keep reading below:
https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/microfluidic-chambers-trigger-sleep-in-c–elegans–66754
Once bitten – twice shy
C. elegans remember eating pathogenic Pseudomonas and pass on the information to the next generation. To find out how, click on the link below
For worm lovers
This one is for all nerds who love the small worm and can’t stop working with them!
(a poem by Nikita Jhaveri)
I am a happy free-living worm
Producing both egg and sperm
Whom scientists use to confirm
Undiscovered theories and reaffirm
My transparent body helps you find
Novel pathways, that blow your mind
Making different theories align
With facts that are hard to malign
Keeping me in your lab is very safe
I won’t bite or cause any chafe
My bed and breakfast are easy to make
One pertidish, some bacteria and I am happy as a flake
Please, use me to explore your macrocosm
After all, I am fun and awesome
I promise to make your inquisitive world blossom!
2020 June 19
Like all other worm meetings this year, C. elegans evolution meeting will be held virtually . The dates are June 24-25. The schedule sounds exciting with more than 40 talks and 40 posters. There will be 200+ participants. There are also virtual cocktail hours! The details can be found on the website: https://www.evoworm2020.com