Abstract
Oscheius tipulae is a common soil nematode of the same family as C. elegans (Rhabditidae), which presents the same hermaphroditic mode of reproduction and is easily cultured in the same conditions. Oscheius tipulae has been used as a developmental genetic model system to study vulva formation. Compared to C. elegans, it has a simpler vulval cell lineage, a reduced competence group and a different mechanism of vulval cell fate patterning. The spectrum of vulval phenotypes obtained in genetic screens differs from that found in C. elegans. Its easy isolation from soil and the availability of numerous wild isolates of O. tipulae from all over the world facilitate population genetic and microevolutionary studies, especially of the evolution of cell lineage. The Oscheius genus also presents many species with interesting evolutionary changes in mode of reproduction, gonad development, body size, etc.
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