Fertilization: what we can learn from worms

Infertility and development of contraceptive methods have profound societal affects; however, the genetic mechanisms underlying this are still largely unknown. Here, we describe how using the small worm Caenorhabditis elegans has helped us to discover the genes involved in these processes. Nobel Laureate Sydney Brenner established the nematode worm C. elegans as a genetic model system with a powerful ability to discover genes in many biological pathways through mutagenesis. In this tradition, many labs have been using the substantial genetic tools established by Brenner and the 'worm' research community to discover genes required for uniting sperm and egg. Our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of the fertilization synapse between sperm and egg rivals that of any organism. Genes have been discovered in worms that share homology and mutant phenotypes with mammals. We provide an overview of the state of our understanding of fertilization in worms as well as exciting future directions and challenges.