Caenorhabditis elegans, a tiny and transparent nematode, is extremely useful in drug discovery due to several key attributes. Its rapid life cycle allows researchers to observe drug effects over multiple generations quickly. Despite its simplicity, C. elegans shares many genetic and biological pathways with humans, making it an excellent model for studying human diseases.

Its transparency enables real-time observation of cellular processes, providing valuable insights into how drugs interact at the cellular level. Additionally, C. elegans is ideal for automated, high-throughput screening due to the ease of culturing and handling large numbers.

Maintaining these nematodes is relatively inexpensive, making them accessible for many research labs. These factors collectively make C. elegans a powerful tool in accelerating the drug discovery process.