Medical significance of Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans is now the model organism of choice for a growing nu mber of researchers. A combination of its apparent simplicity, exquisite ge netics, the existence of a full molecular toolkit and a complete genome seq uence makes it ideal for rapid and effective study of gene function. A surv ey of the C. elegans genome indicates that this 'simple' worm contains many genes with a high degree of similarity to human disease genes. For many hu man disease genes it has proven, and will continue to prove, difficult to e lucidate their function by direct study. In such cases simpler model organi sms may prove to be a more productive starting point. The basic function of a human disease gene may be studied in the background of C. elegans, in wh ich the most important interactions are likely to be conserved, providing a n insight into disease process in humans. Here we consider the significance of this modality for human disease processes and discuss how C. elegans ma y, in some cases, be ideal in the study of the function of human disease ge nes and act as a model for groups of parasitic nematodes that have a severe impact on world health.