AIntroFIG 1: Life Cycle of C. elegans.

AIntroFIG 1: Life Cycle of C. elegans.

C. elegans larval development proceeds through 4 larval stages (L1 through L4). L4 larvae molt into adults that develop into adults that survive for approximately 3 weeks under normal laboratory conditions and then proceed through various aging phenotypes. L1 larvae may proceed through the alternate dauer pathway under harsh environmental conditions; age associated declines can be measured as various aging “phenotypes” over adult life. Dauer larvae are adapted for long-term survival and dispersal to new environments. Once in a more favorable environment, dauer larvae reenter reproductive development by molting into the L4 larval stage and progressing through the rest of the life cycle normally. (Adapted from WormAtlas IntroFIG 6 and DIntroFIG 1.)

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