C. elegans

C. elegans, or Caenorhabditis elegans, is a small, transparent roundworm widely used in scientific research. Measuring about 1 millimeter in length, it has a simple structure with around 1,000 cells. Researchers study C. elegans to understand basic biological processes due to its rapid life cycle and well-mapped genome. This organism helps scientists investigate genetics, development, neurobiology, and aging, providing insights that can apply to more complex organisms, including humans. Its simplicity and the ease of laboratory cultivation make it an invaluable model organism in biological and medical research.