Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode with an adult body length of approximately 1 mm. It is a free-living organism that lives in temperate soil environments. It has played a major role as a model organism for research into molecular and developmental biology. This nematode lives for about 2-3 weeks and passes through four juvenile stages before reaching sexual maturity. It has six chromosomes and a transparent body that facilitates the study of cell differentiation and development. C. elegans has been used extensively in the study of aging. In these studies, scientists have discovered a gene called daf-2, which plays a significant role in controlling the aging process and longevity. In fertile nematodes where there is a mutation in the daf-2 gene, animals lived for almost twice as long as animals with the normal gene. The daf-2 gene produces molecules that play an important role in cell signaling pathways associated with growth and aging of individual cells. Reducing the activity of these molecules extends the life span of the whole animal. A mutation in the DNA of C. elegans means ____________________.

Question

Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode with an adult body length of approximately 1 mm. It is a free-living organism that lives in temperate soil environments. It has played a major role as a model organism for research into molecular and developmental biology. This nematode lives for about 2-3 weeks and passes through four juvenile stages before reaching sexual maturity. It has six chromosomes and a transparent body that facilitates the study of cell differentiation and development. C. elegans has been used extensively in the study of aging. In these studies, scientists have discovered a gene called daf-2, which plays a significant role in controlling the aging process and longevity. In fertile nematodes where there is a mutation in the daf-2 gene, animals lived for almost twice as long as animals with the normal gene. The daf-2 gene produces molecules that play an important role in cell signaling pathways associated with growth and aging of individual cells. Reducing the activity of these molecules extends the life span of the whole animal. A mutation in the DNA of C. elegans means ____________________.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A mutation in the DNA of C. elegans, as with any organism, can involve a change in a single nitrogenous base, which is a common form of genetic mutation. This can affect the genetic code and potentially alter the function of genes, such as the daf-2 gene mentioned. Changes in the type of sugar in the DNA backbone, coding for different lipid molecules, or altering the start codon are not typical results of a mutation in the DNA sequence itself.

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