To leverage the tools, resources and knowledge that exist for C. elegans so that we can study ecology, evolution and other aspects of biology, we need to understand the natural history of this important model organism.
The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has informed our understanding of molecular biology and genetics for decades, and learning more about its natural history could fuel a new era of functional and evolutionary studies of this classic model organism.
A better understanding of the remarkable diversity, natural history and complex ecology of E. coli in the wild could shed new light on its biology and role in disease, and further expand its many uses as a model organism.
The zebrafish is a premier model organism for biomedical research, with a rich array of tools and genomic resources, and combining these with a fuller appreciation of wild zebrafish ecology could greatly extend its utility in biological research.
A better understanding of the natural history of model organisms will increase their value as model systems and also keep them at the forefront of research.
Research in molecular ecology and evolution is increasingly utilizing the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, placing a spotlight on its natural history.
Nicholas A Bokulich, Jordyn Bergsveinson ... David A Mills
Mapping microbial landscapes in indoor environments can predict how contaminants and spoilage resistance genes propagate within food-production environments, yielding novel insight for controlling spoilage.
Katelyn M Gostic, Adam J Kucharski, James O Lloyd-Smith
Pathogen natural history, epidemiological knowledge, human behavior and epidemic progression determine whether symptom screening and questionnaires are effective barriers to geographic spread of infection by travelers.
Sofía Lavista-Llanos, Aleš Svatoš ... Bill S Hansson
The insect dopaminergic system serves an important function in the regulation of ontogenesis and early development, contributing to the evolutionary processes that limit the ecological niche of Drosophila sechellia.
