OpenWorm aims to build the first comprehensive computational model of the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a microscopic roundworm. With less than a thousand cells, it solves basic problems such as feeding, mate-finding and predator avoidance. Despite being extremely well studied in biology, this organism still eludes a deep, principled understanding of its biology.

We are using a bottom-up approach, aimed at observing the worm behaviour emerge from a simulation of data derived from scientific experiments carried out over the past decade. To do so we are incorporating the data available in the scientific community into software models. We have developed tools such as Sibernetic and c302, open-source simulation platforms, to be able to run these different models in concert, and created a unified Docker simulation stack to bring all these parts together. We are also forging new collaborations with universities and research institutes to collect data that fill in the gaps.

All the code we produce in the OpenWorm project is Open Source and available on GitHub. This makes it easy for everyone to look at and play with.

Detailed documentation for each sub-project is available from the Projects page, and you can see an overview of tests on the core repositories here.

Nothing beats the chance to ask a question for yourself. No matter what your background is, or how naive you think your question is, feel free to reach out!

OK, you like the project and you are interested in it. How about connecting with us to receive updates as we make progress? There are different ways you can stay connected, and whether you prefer to receive casual updates or you want to "drink from the firehose", we can help connect you.

For more information about staying in sync, visit the Contacts page.

It might be just a drop in the ocean but it's still going to help! We are constantly looking for collaborators and people that share our vision.

If you want to contribute to the project in any way you should visit the Get Involved page. We have put together some common profiles but if yours doesn't fit in any of them please drop us a line anyway, we'd love to hear from you!