title: Cell identification and cell lineage analysis.
abstract: Caenorhabditis elegans is uniquely suited to the analysis of cell lineage patterns. C. elegans has a small number of somatic cells whose position and morphology are almost invariant from animal to animal. Because C. elegans is virtually transparent, cells can be identified in live animals using a simple bright-field microscopy technique, Nomarski differential interference contrast (DIC), or by expression of transgenic fluorescent reporter genes. The small size and rapid development of C. elegans mean that animals can develop while under continuous observation, allowing cell lineages to be analyzed throughout embryonic and postembryonic development. Embryonic cell lineages can also be traced semiautomatically using timelapse imaging of GFP-labeled nuclei. Analysis of mutant cell lineages remains important for defining the roles of developmental control genes.
authors: Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
authors: Claudiu A
authors: CA
authors: Giurumescu
authors: Andrew D
authors: AD
authors: Chisholm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D008857:Microscopy, Interference / Q000379:methods; D010641:Phenotype; D009626:Terminology as Topic