Inferring temporal organization of postembryonic development from high-content behavioral tracking.

ABSTRACT: Understanding temporal regulation of development remains an important challenge. Whereas average, species-typical timing of many developmental processes has been established, less is known about inter-individual variability and correlations in timing of specific events. We addressed these questions in the context of postembryonic development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Based on patterns of locomotor activity of freely moving animals, we inferred durations of four larval stages (L1-L4) in over 100 individuals. Analysis of these data supports several conclusions. Individuals have consistently faster or slower rates of development because durations of L1 through L3 stages are positively correlated. The last larval stage, the L4, is less variable than the earlier stages and its duration is larg

SUBMITTER: Faerberg DF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8107144 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature