What is the Connection Between Worms and Cancer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pattielli
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the connection between worms, specifically the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, and cancer research. Participants explore the genetic characteristics of C. elegans and its relevance in scientific studies, particularly in the context of cancer.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the size of the genome of worms, indicating a general interest in the topic.
  • Another participant provides a link to a resource for information on different types of worms and mentions the NCBI genome website for whole genome data.
  • It is noted that the genome of Caenorhabditis elegans is 97 million bases, significantly smaller than the human genome, which has about 3 billion bases.
  • A participant mentions that C. elegans has approximately 20,443 genes, while humans have around 30,000 genes, although the exact number for humans is questioned.
  • There is a personal interest expressed in C. elegans due to its appearance and its relevance to cancer research, with a mention of the impact of cancer on patients.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants share information about C. elegans and its genetic makeup, but there is no consensus on the implications of this information for cancer research or the specific reasons for interest in the organism.

Contextual Notes

Some statements about the number of genes in humans are presented with uncertainty, indicating a need for clarification or verification. The discussion does not resolve the broader implications of the connection between worms and cancer.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in genetics, cancer research, or the use of model organisms in scientific studies may find this discussion relevant.

Pattielli
Messages
296
Reaction score
0
It is just not out of my interest, which is why my question is present here, what size does it has ?

Thank you very much,
 
Biology news on Phys.org
Which worm do you want? there http://www.howe.k12.ok.us/~jimaskew/bworm.htm

For whole genome data you can always visit the
NCBI genome website
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Depends on the worm you are looking at. Caenorhabditis elegans is a worm used as a model organism in labs, its 97-million base genome was sequenced (compared to the 3-billion bases in the human genome) I'm not sure how many genes are encoded in that though.
 
From iansmith's link: 20,443 genes for C. elegans compared to about 30,000 (?) genes in H. sapiens.
 
Thank iansmith very much for your help (this thread and that Worms thread too)
 
Monique said:
Depends on the worm you are looking at. Caenorhabditis elegans is a worm used as a model organism in labs, its 97-million base genome was sequenced (compared to the 3-billion bases in the human genome) I'm not sure how many genes are encoded in that though.
:sml: Yes, i am looking for that one...You read it !
 
So why the interest in C. elegans? :)
 
First of all, maybe number one reason : They look terrible, they come out a lot after the rain...My friends say they are lovely and easy...
Second, I am interested in cancer which there are lots of patients dying of...
Have you talked to any patient who has cancerous cells ?
 

Similar threads

Is There an Evolutionary Link Between Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
Medical Ashwagandha (Withaferin A) effective in cancer treatment
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
PFAS and Power Lines Cause Cancer?
  • · Replies 37 ·
2
Replies
37
Views
11K
What Is Merkel Cell Cancer, the Rare Disease That Claimed Jimmy Buffett?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Medical The role of bacteria in cancer development
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
"Spontaneous" cancer development
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
4K
COVID Need to refine an argument against an (almost) anti-vaxxer
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Is metastatic cancer different from primary cancer?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Medical Any suggestions to dampen the sounds of a colostomy bag?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Why does rectal cancer give a sense of incomplete evacuation
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K