Stress-induced phenocopy of C-elegans defines functional steps of sensory organ differentiation

The differentiation of male specific sensory rays in the nematode Caenorhab ditis elegans is a complex process regulated by multiple genetic components . A novel approach with heat shock treatment was employed to show that mult istep regulation is involved in this process. Intervention in this stepwise regulation resulted in phenocopy of specific gene mutations. The results s uggest that differential gene function acting at a precise time frame is ne cessary to guide the normal differentiation of sensory rays.