<P> Wild isolates of Caenorhabditis elegans are regularly found with infections by Microsporidia fungi . One such species, Nematocida parisii, replicates in the intestines of C. elegans . </P> <P> Arthrobotrys oligospora is the model organism for interactions between fungi and nematodes . It is the most common nematode capturing fungus, and most widespread nematode trapping fungus in nature . </P> <P> In 1963, Sydney Brenner proposed using C. elegans as a model organism for the investigation primarily of neural development in animals . It is one of the simplest organisms with a nervous system . The neurons do not fire action potentials, and do not express any voltage - gated ion channels . In the hermaphrodite, this system comprises 302 neurons the pattern of which has been comprehensively mapped, in what is known as a connectome, and shown to be a small - world network . Research has explored the neural and molecular mechanisms that control several behaviors of C. elegans, including chemotaxis, thermotaxis, mechanotransduction, learning, memory, and mating behaviour . Brenner also chose it as it is easy to grow in bulk populations, and convenient for genetic analysis . It is a multicellular eukaryotic organism, yet is simple enough to be studied in great detail . The transparency of C. elegans facilitates the study of cellular differentiation and other developmental processes in the intact organism . The spicules in the male clearly distinguish males from females . Strains are cheap to breed and can be frozen . When subsequently thawed, they remain viable, allowing long - term storage . Maintenance is easy when compared to other multicellular model organisms, a few hundred nematodes can be kept on a single agar plate and suitable growth medium . Brenner described the use of a mutant of E. Coli--OP50 . OP50 is a uracil - requiring organism and its deficiency in the plate prevents the overgrowth of bacteria which would obscure the worms . </P> <P> The developmental fate of every single somatic cell (959 in the adult hermaphrodite; 1031 in the adult male) has been mapped . These patterns of cell lineage are largely invariant between individuals, whereas in mammals, cell development is more dependent on cellular cues from the embryo . </P>

What are two characteristics that make c. elegans a good model organism
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