Studying the Effects of Extra Sets of Chromosomes on C. elegans Neurons : Using Tetraploid C. Elegans to Investigate Genetic Abnormalities

Abstract

Polyploidy is a condition in which organisms possess multiple sets of chromosomes as a result of nondisjunction events during meiosis. In most organisms, polyploidy results in sterility or lethality, making it difficult to study These characteristics make C. elegans a good model to investigate the effects of changes in ploidy on living multicellular organisms. Primary cilia are organelles that extend from the surface of some sensory neurons in C. elegans. In animals, cilia are thought to function as regulators of cell growth, division and proliferation, and defects in cilia function have been linked to several human diseases and health concerns. Polyploidy has been associated with cyst growth in patients with Polycystic Kidney Disorder (PKD). We hypothesized that analysis of primary cilia structure and function in C. elegans might yield insights into connections between ploidy and pathology.