Caenorhabditis Elegans as a Model System for Meiosis Research: Advantages and Recent Progress
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Caenorhabditis Elegans as a Model System for Meiosis Research: Advantages and Recent Progress

Bixian Li 1*
1 Shandong University
*Corresponding author: 2813530256@qq.com
Published on 24 September 2025
Journal Cover
TNS Vol.138
ISSN (Print): 2753-8826
ISSN (Online): 2753-8818
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-381-9
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-382-6
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Abstract

Meiosis is a pivotal biological process essential for the generation of haploid gametes and the preservation of genomic integrity across generations. Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as a powerful model for dissecting the molecular and cellular mechanisms of meiosis due to its unique combination of genetic tractability, optical transparency, and synchronized gonad architecture. This review summarizes the key advantages of Caenorhabditis elegans, including its compact and well-annotated genome, versatile genetic manipulation tools (e.g., RNAi, CRISPR/Cas9), and in vivo imaging capabilities that enable high-resolution observation of meiotic events. We highlight recent insights into homolog pairing, synapsis, crossover control, spindle assembly, and meiotic checkpoint regulation, emphasizing the coordinated actions of conserved and nematode-specific factors such as pairing centers, synaptonemal complex components, and regulatory networks involving CHK-2, MAD-1/MAD-2, and PCH-2. While limitations exist—such as its self-fertilizing reproductive mode and holocentric chromosome structure—ongoing advancements in imaging, multi-omics, and synthetic biology continue to enhance its applicability. Caenorhabditis elegans thus remains a valuable and forward-looking system for unraveling the principles of meiosis with implications for fertility, genome maintenance, and developmental biology.

Keywords:

Caenorhabditis elegans, meiosis, synaptonemal complex, homolog pairing

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Li,B. (2025). Caenorhabditis Elegans as a Model System for Meiosis Research: Advantages and Recent Progress. Theoretical and Natural Science,138,25-34.

References

[1]. Bohr T, Ashley G, Eggleston E, Firestone K, Bhalla N. Synaptonemal Complex Components Are Required for Meiotic Checkpoint Function in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2016; 204(3): 987-97.

[2]. Pintard L, Bowerman B. Mitotic Cell Division in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2019; 211(1): 35-73.

[3]. Woodruff GC, Teterina AA. Degradation of the Repetitive Genomic Landscape in a Close Relative of Caenorhabditis elegans. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 37(9): 2549-67.

[4]. Özdemir I, Steiner FA. Transmission of chromatin states across generations in C. elegans. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology 2022; 127: 133-41.

[5]. Horton HH, Divekar NS, Wignall SM. Newfound features of meiotic chromosome organization that promote efficient congression and segregation in Caenorhabditis elegans. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL 2022; 33(14).

[6]. Bahrami AK, Zhang Y. When females produce sperm: genetics of C. elegans hermaphrodite reproductive choice. G3 (Bethesda) 2013; 3(10): 1851-9.

[7]. Gordon SG, Rodriguez AA, Gu Y, Corbett KD, Lee CF, Rog O. The synaptonemal complex aligns meiotic chromosomes by wetting. Science Advances; 11(9): eadt5675.

[8]. Patel B, Grobler M, Herrera A, Logari E, Ortiz V, Bhalla N. The conserved ATPase PCH-2 controls the number and distribution of crossovers by antagonizing their formation in Caenorhabditis elegans. eLife 2025; 13: RP102409.

[9]. Connolly AA, Sugioka K, Chuang CH, Lowry JB, Bowerman B. KLP-7 acts through the Ndc80 complex to limit pole number in C. elegans oocyte meiotic spindle assembly. J Cell Biol 2015; 210(6): 917-32.

[10]. Bohr T, Nelson CR, Klee E, Bhalla N. Spindle assembly checkpoint proteins regulate and monitor meiotic synapsis in C. elegans. Journal of Cell Biology 2015; 211(2): 233-42.

[11]. Chen SY, Cheng PW, Peng HF, Wu JC. C. elegans spermatocyte divisions show a weak spindle checkpoint response. JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE 2024; 137(6).

References

[1]. Bohr T, Ashley G, Eggleston E, Firestone K, Bhalla N. Synaptonemal Complex Components Are Required for Meiotic Checkpoint Function in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2016; 204(3): 987-97.

[2]. Pintard L, Bowerman B. Mitotic Cell Division in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2019; 211(1): 35-73.

[3]. Woodruff GC, Teterina AA. Degradation of the Repetitive Genomic Landscape in a Close Relative of Caenorhabditis elegans. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 37(9): 2549-67.

[4]. Özdemir I, Steiner FA. Transmission of chromatin states across generations in C. elegans. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology 2022; 127: 133-41.

[5]. Horton HH, Divekar NS, Wignall SM. Newfound features of meiotic chromosome organization that promote efficient congression and segregation in Caenorhabditis elegans. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL 2022; 33(14).

[6]. Bahrami AK, Zhang Y. When females produce sperm: genetics of C. elegans hermaphrodite reproductive choice. G3 (Bethesda) 2013; 3(10): 1851-9.

[7]. Gordon SG, Rodriguez AA, Gu Y, Corbett KD, Lee CF, Rog O. The synaptonemal complex aligns meiotic chromosomes by wetting. Science Advances; 11(9): eadt5675.

[8]. Patel B, Grobler M, Herrera A, Logari E, Ortiz V, Bhalla N. The conserved ATPase PCH-2 controls the number and distribution of crossovers by antagonizing their formation in Caenorhabditis elegans. eLife 2025; 13: RP102409.

[9]. Connolly AA, Sugioka K, Chuang CH, Lowry JB, Bowerman B. KLP-7 acts through the Ndc80 complex to limit pole number in C. elegans oocyte meiotic spindle assembly. J Cell Biol 2015; 210(6): 917-32.

[10]. Bohr T, Nelson CR, Klee E, Bhalla N. Spindle assembly checkpoint proteins regulate and monitor meiotic synapsis in C. elegans. Journal of Cell Biology 2015; 211(2): 233-42.

[11]. Chen SY, Cheng PW, Peng HF, Wu JC. C. elegans spermatocyte divisions show a weak spindle checkpoint response. JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE 2024; 137(6).

Cite this article

Li,B. (2025). Caenorhabditis Elegans as a Model System for Meiosis Research: Advantages and Recent Progress. Theoretical and Natural Science,138,25-34.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICBioMed 2025 Symposium: Computational Modelling and Simulation for Biology and Medicine

ISBN: 978-1-80590-381-9(Print) / 978-1-80590-382-6(Online)
Editor: Alan Wang, Roman Bauer
Conference website: https://2025.icbiomed.org/london.html
Conference date: 19 October 2025
Series: Theoretical and Natural Science
Volume number: Vol.138
ISSN: 2753-8818(Print) / 2753-8826(Online)

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