Cell migration is essential for metazona development.
For example, heart, gonad and skin development all involve extensive migration of cells. To generate the connectivity of the nervous system, neuronal growth cones must migrate to their targets. In a related process, migration of metastatic cancer cells involves many of the same proteins as other migrating cells. Our goal is to understand how migrating cells recognize and respond to the cues that guide them. We have taken a genetic approach to investigate cell migration using the small nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, as a model system.