The Human Genome Project announced the sequencing of 20,000 human genes over 20 years ago, but scientists are still studying how fully formed beings emerge from basic genetic instructions. Efforts to understand how disorders can develop in the earliest stages of development would benefit from knowing how complex organisms arise from a single fertilized cell. Researchers from the University of California San Diego have gained new insights into embryonic development by studying the simple model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), also known as “the worm.” This research provides a detailed understanding of how genes function during embryonic development and has been published in the journal Cell.
The study, led by Rebecca Green and Professor Karen Oegema from the School of Biological Sciences, focuses on understanding how genes are involved in embryonic development. By analyzing genes in C. elegans, researchers can learn about their role in more complex organisms, including humans. Using an automated system and time-lapse 4-D imaging, the team tracked the function of genes required for embryogenesis, allowing them to identify the genes responsible for different tissues and organs in the developing organism. By blocking the function of each gene individually, the researchers were able to group genes with similar functions and identify new gene relationships.
The researchers developed a method to create “fingerprints” for individual genes, identifying their roles in processes like muscle or skin formation during embryogenesis. By analyzing nearly 7,000 4-D embryogenesis movies, the team was able to classify the functions of genes, identify new gene relationships, and reveal novel insights into metabolic pathways and molecular machines involved in gene regulation. The data gathered from the research has led to the creation of PhenoBank, an online resource that houses the genetic atlas developed during the study, allowing access to the information collected.
In addition to the 500 genes analyzed in the Cell study, the researchers are now working to complete the analysis of all 2,000 C. elegans genes implicated in embryogenesis. This research aims to tackle the challenge of understanding how a single cell with a genome containing thousands of genes can develop into a complex organism. The approach developed by the researchers provides valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms involved in embryonic development and sheds light on the complexity of biological processes that lead to the formation of tissues and organs in organisms.
Overall, the study conducted by the researchers at the University of California San Diego provides a comprehensive understanding of how genes function during embryonic development in a simple model organism. By analyzing genes in C. elegans, researchers can gain insights into their roles in more complex organisms, including humans. The development of an automated system for profiling gene function, combined with time-lapse 4-D imaging, has allowed the team to track the function of genes required for embryogenesis and identify their roles in tissue formation. The findings from this research have led to the creation of PhenoBank, an online resource that provides access to the genetic atlas developed during the study.