The world of a worm: a framework for Caenorhabditis evolution

Abstract

The European Molecular Biology Organization workshop on the Study of Evolutionary Biology with Caenorhabditis elegans and Closely Related Species was held at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia, Oeiras, Portugal, from 23 to 26 May 2006. The meeting was organized by H. Teotonio, M.‐A. Felix, R. Azevedo and P. Phillips. ![][1] Many aspects of Caenorhabditis elegans biology are known in exquisite detail: all somatic cell divisions that occur from zygote to adult have been described, the synaptic connections made by all neurons have been reconstructed, the entire genome has been sequenced and the function of most predicted genes has been tested by forward‐genetic screens, targeted gene‐specific deletions, RNA interference or a combination of these techniques. However, less is known about the evolutionary processes that shaped the genome and the biology of this worm (Fitch, 2005). To close this knowledge gap, an exciting workshop sponsored by the European Molecular Biology Organization and the Gulbenkian Foundation brought together a diverse group of about 50 investigators, whose common interest was the evolution of C. elegans and its closely related species. According to the organizers, this meeting aimed to establish a network of researchers to discuss guidelines, common resources and goals for the near future. This report highlights some of the questions and recent discoveries discussed at the workshop. Some life‐history traits of C. elegans are atypical, even for a nematode. For instance, it is one of the few nematode species that is able both to self‐fertilize and to outcross with males. Self‐fertilization produces hermaphrodites and rare spontaneous males, whereas cross‐fertilization produces equal proportions of both sexes. Although this ability comes at the price of inbreeding, one possible adaptive advantage is reproductive assurance: hermaphrodites can produce offspring in a new habitat independent of a mating partner. A second asset is the rate of reproduction: all hermaphrodite … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif