C. elegans Nematode Worm
elegans nematode worm is the chapter's central organism and one of biology's most important model organisms for aging research.
The C. elegans nematode worm is the chapter's central organism and one of biology's most important model organisms for aging research. This tiny transparent worm lives just 21 days when fed normally but lives exactly 42 days - double the lifespan - when fed 60% of normal calories.
The worm trades fertility for longevity: at normal feeding it produces ~300 offspring; with caloric restriction it produces only ~50 offspring. From an evolutionary perspective, this makes sense: if food is scarce, don't waste energy producing offspring that will starve - wait for food to return, then reproduce. This represents the fundamental life history trade-off that the chapter applies to business strategy.
Notable Traits of C. elegans Nematode Worm
- 21-day normal lifespan doubles to 42 days with caloric restriction
- 300 offspring reduced to 50 with restriction
- Transparent body enables observation of cellular processes
- Model organism for aging research