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Christian A. Grove, Paul W. Sternberg (California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125)
The study of the molecular and cellular biology of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has provided fundamental understanding of RNA-interference, the logics of neural circuitry, longevity, embryogenesis, and a multitude of molecular signaling cascades. Painstaking analysis over many decades has elucidated the detailed cellular anatomy of C. elegans to a resolution far beyond that available for any other multi-cellular organism. Presented here is a three-dimensional model of C. elegans at cellular resolution. The model consists of 631 objects representing 693 cells and essentially all of the 959 somatic nuclei of the adult hermaphrodite of C. elegans. The goal of developing this model is to: (1) Provide students and researchers an interactive tool to learn about and explore the cellular anatomy of C. elegans, (2) provide a framework for the archiving of cellular and molecular biological data, and (3) promote discovery by providing novel visualizations and perspectives. A user interface has been developed within the 3D graphics program, Blender, to allow users to explore the model while customizing their views and perspectives by toggling visibility, transparency, and cell names.