Nematode mind: Exploring the role of the RNAi pathway in learning, memory and beyond

Caenorhabditis nematodes, particularly the well-known C. elegans, have challenged early views of them as hard-wired by demonstrating diverse learning and memory capabilities. This cognitive repertoire, developed with just several hundred neurons, highlights the evolutionary importance of cognitive traits. In this study, we examine the relationship between learning, development, reproduction, and lifespan, focusing on its regulation by the conserved RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. Specifically, we examine NRDE-3, a key Argonaute protein in this pathway, using an RNAi-defective nrde-3 mutant to evaluate the effects of this mutation under two diets. Here we recite the relevant phenotypic data from the assays, as well as the R scripts used for their analyses.