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Transgenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans

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Transgenesis Techniques

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 561))

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Two efficient strategies have been developed and are widely used for the genetic transformation of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, DNA microinjection, and DNA-coated microparticle bombardment. Both methodologies facilitate the delivery of exogenous DNA into the developing oocytes of adult hermaphrodite animals, which then generate transgenic worms among their progeny. Although both approaches share the common underlying principle of introducing foreign DNA into the germline of C. elegans, they offer distinct transformation outcomes. In this chapter, we present DNA microinjection and bombardment methods for transgenesis in C. elegans and provide time-tested procedures for their implementation. We also discuss their relative advantages as well as their limitations and evaluate their potential for a range of applications.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Matthias Rieckher and Nikos Kourtis contributed equally.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Ekkehard Schulze from the BaumeisterLab for valuable information on DNA-coated microparticle bombardment methodologies and members of the Tavernarakis Lab for comments and suggestions. Work in the authors’ laboratory is supported by grants from the EU 6th Framework Programme. N. K. is the recipient of a Manasaki doctoral fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Vasilika Vouton, 1385, Heraklion, 71110, Crete, Greece

    Matthias Rieckher, Nikos Kourtis, Angela Pasparaki & Nektarios Tavernarakis

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  1. Matthias Rieckher
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  2. Nikos Kourtis
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  3. Angela Pasparaki
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  4. Nektarios Tavernarakis
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Correspondence to Nektarios Tavernarakis .

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    © 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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    Rieckher, M., Kourtis, N., Pasparaki, A., Tavernarakis, N. (2009). Transgenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans . In: Cartwright, E. (eds) Transgenesis Techniques. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 561. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-019-9_2

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-019-9_2

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    • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-018-2

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