What can a Tiny Worm Teach Us About our Brain? | Lexin Gitler | TEDxShanghai American School Pudong

A look at how C. elegans, a millimeter-long worm living in soil and compost, helps scientists study complex nervous systems. Using one gene (UNK-1) as a case study, this talk shows how researchers can see proteins, switch them off on command, and link tiny biological changes to visible behavior—showing why this tiny worm has played such a big role in modern biology. I am a 10th grade student from San Francisco, California. I have a passion for science and specifically biology. Over the past 3 years I have pursued this interest by working on genetics and neuroscience at a Lab at Stanford University. Today I will share how studying a tiny animal can reveal big discoveries about our brain. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx