Genetics of Egg-Laying in Worms

Genetic studies of behavior in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have provided an effective approach to investigate the molecular and cellular basis of nervous system function and development. Among the best studied behaviors is egg-laying, the process by which hermaphrodites deposit developing embryos into the environment. Egg-laying involves a simple motor program involving a small network of motorneurons and specialized smooth muscle cells, which is regulated by a variety of sensory stimuli. Analysis of egg-laying–defective mutants has provided insight into a number of conserved processes in nervous system development, including neurogenesis, cell migration, and synaptic patterning, as well as aspects of excitable cell signal transduction and neuromodulation.