Abstract
The suitability of C. elegans as a model for the question of nutritional science is a controversial topic. The discussion makes clear that C. elegans is its own best model for revealing, via genetic approaches, biological principles of nutritional behavior, and the biochemical function of vitamins. In this case, the model has a discovery function. Worm research serves also in the identification of nutrition-dependent pathways that could be used for novel approaches in human nutritional studies. This heuristic function of the model guides the applied nutrition research in an innovative direction. Since the nutrition and metabolism for the worm and man differ from each other somewhat strongly, results of nutritional studies in C. elegans are not directly applicable to human nutrition. In general, the C. elegans model is primarily appropriate for explaining the causality of general species’ nutritional phenotypes. Experience tells us that the analysis of drastic nutritional phenotypes in C. elegans has the potential to enrich the canon of knowledge of nutritional science.
Highlights
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is widely used as a model organism for studying specific genetic, biochemical, and environmental factors that affect several adaptive behaviors, nutrient sensing, lipid storage, and aging
Nutritional biology analyses general phenomena that are important for the population and/ or the organism
The signaling pathways identified in C. elegans can serve as approaches for establishing new questions in human nutrition
Summary
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is widely used as a model organism for studying specific genetic, biochemical, and environmental factors that affect several adaptive behaviors (e.g., foraging), nutrient sensing, lipid storage, and aging. A model is suitable when a nutritional stimulus (for example, dietary restriction) triggers a signaling pathway that is crucial for many species, including. The signaling pathways identified in C. elegans can serve as approaches for establishing new questions in human nutrition From this point of view, molecular nutrition research in C. elegans has a heuristic function; means, the model can guide the applied nutrition research in an innovative direction. This risky, hypothesis-free, and functional approach is the best way to identify genes which could not otherwise be connected to nutrition phenotypes (i.e., collective foraging) Such studies are a desired outcome of nutrition biology research, even though the C. elegans model is predestined for it. Experience teaches us that only such model investigations have the power to enrich the canon of knowledge of nutritional science [9]
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