Why is Caenorhabditis elegans an appropriate model organism for studying developmental processes? Why is Caenorhabditis elegans an appropriate model organism for studying developmental processes? C. elegans have meristems, regions that contain many stem cells. C. elegans has genes that are completely unique from mice and humans. C. elegans is transparent and has only about 1000 cells, allowing the cells to be followed during development. C. elegans has millions of cells but can be easily mutated to have no gastrulation. C. elegans does not undergo programmed cell death.