Students in this course will receive hands on experience working with the nematode C. elegans to learn how they are used as a model for genetic and developmental research. Participants will use both new and classical approaches to characterize a variety of dominant and recessive mutant alleles, perform complementation tests, and map mutations to their respective chromosomes. Additionally, students will perform PCR, restriction digests, gel electrophoresis, DNA sequencing, and will use RNAi to knock down gene expression in developing worms.