What is C. elegans?
C. elegans
C. elegans is a nematode worm used as a model organism in biology, particularly in genetics and neuroscience. Recent work tracks its role in demonstrating inheritance of acquired traits and in comparing biological and robotic control systems.
How it developed
- Sep 2026 - Oded Rechavi said that in the worm there is now “very obvious and clearcut proof” of inheritance of acquired traits, to the point that few in the epigenetic field argue against it.
- Sep 2026 - Rechavi said the secret to worm inheritance is the capacity to amplify small RNAs continuously, preventing dilution, and that no such amplification mechanism is known in mammals.
- Sep 2026 - Rechavi said manipulating endogenous natural RNAs in the worm’s brain changes the next generation’s ability to find food, with effects persisting three generations down the road.
- Sep 2026 - Ramin Hasani noted that with 302 neurons the worm could control 95 muscle cells better than any robotic systems available in 2016 and 2017.
In the evidence
Every line below is attributed to a named speaker.
Oded Rechavi on the scientific consensus around transgenerational inheritance in C. elegans.
“In the worm, we now have very obvious and clearcut proof that there is inheritance of acquired traits. So much so that I don't think that anyone pretty much in the epigenetic field argues against it.”Oded Rechavi · 10 Sep 2026
C. elegans sustains transgenerational inheritance by continuously amplifying small RNAs to prevent dilution across generations, a mechanism not yet identified in mammals.
“I told you that the secret to worms inheritance is that they have the capacity to amplify these small RNAs all the time. This is what keeps it going and prevents the dilution. In mammals, we don't know of such an amplification mechanism.”Oded Rechavi · 10 Sep 2026
Manipulating small RNA production in C. elegans brains alters food-finding ability in descendants for up to three generations.
“We show that you just manipulate the production of endogenous natural RNAs in the worm's brain that are always made, but you change their amount and this changes the capacity of the worms in the next generation to find food not only in one generation but three generations down the road.”Oded Rechavi · 10 Sep 2026
The C. elegans worm, with 302 neurons, controlled 95 muscle cells better than any robotic system available in 2016 to 2017.
“With 302 neurons it could control 95 muscle cells better than any robotic systems that we had on the planet you know and this is 2016 and 2017.”Ramin Hasani · 18 Sep 2026