Beyond the reference: gene expression variation and transcriptional response to RNA interference in Caenorhabditis elegans.

ABSTRACT: Though natural systems harbor genetic and phenotypic variation, research in model organisms is often restricted to a reference strain. Focusing on a reference strain yields a great depth of knowledge but potentially at the cost of breadth of understanding. Furthermore, tools developed in the reference context may introduce bias when applied to other strains, posing challenges to defining the scope of variation within model systems. Here, we evaluate how genetic differences among 5 wild Caenorhabditis elegans strains affect gene expression and its quantification, in general and after induction of the RNA interference (RNAi) response. Across strains, 34% of genes were differentially expressed in the control condition, including 411 genes that were not expressed at all in at least 1 strain; 4

SUBMITTER: Bell AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10411595 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature