Morphological Characterization of , , and Phenotypes in .

The determinant factors of an organism's size during animal development have been explored from various angles but remain partially understood. In , many genes affecting cuticle structure, cell growth, and proliferation have been identified to regulate the worm's overall morphology, including body size. While various mutations in those genes directly result in changes in the morphological phenotypes, there is still a need for established, clear, and distinct standards to determine the apparent abnormality in a worm's size and shape.