#C_elegans

A groundbreaking new study has uncovered remarkable sex-based differences in the structure of a single neuron in the tiny nematode—Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans)—offering fresh insight into the underpinnings of sex-specific neural and behavioral differences, with far-reaching implications for understanding the human brain. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and conducted by a collaborative team at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the research reveals that a single neuron, previously believed to function identically in both sexes, displays structural and functional differences linked to sex-specific behaviors in this simple organism (MedicalXpress).

A new study reveals striking sex-based differences in the structure of a single neuron in the tiny worm C. elegans, providing fresh insight into how neural and behavioral patterns may diverge by sex. The research, conducted by a collaboration between Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Albert Einstein College of Medicine and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that the PVD neuron, long studied in hermaphrodites, develops male-specific branches linked to mating behavior. This discovery highlights cellular-level sexual dimorphism and its potential relevance to human brain health.