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<p><font color="#000000">As for most model organisms, there is a dedicated online database for the species that is actively curated by scientists working in this field. The WormBase database attempts to collate all published information on <em>C. elegans</em> and other related nematodes. A reward of $5000 has been advertised on their website, for the finder of a new species of closely related nematode.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></sup> Such a discovery would broaden research opportunities with the worm.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></sup></font></p>

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<p><font color="#000000"><strong><em>C. elegans</em> was the first multicellular organism to have its genome completely sequenced</strong>.&nbsp;<br />

The finished genome sequence was published in 1998,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></sup> although a number of small gaps were present (the last gap was finished by October 2002). The <em>C. elegans</em> genome sequence is approximately 100 million base pairs long and contains approximately <strong>20,000</strong> genes. The vast majority of these genes encode for proteins but there are likely to be as many as 1,000 RNA genes. Scientific curators continue to appraise the set of known genes, such that new gene predictions continue to be added and incorrect ones modified or removed.</font></p>