The C. elegans gene Knockout Project at OMRF is launched on the heels of the completion of the C. elegans genome in 1998. The reverese genetics approach is made possible by the genome information provided by the international sequencing projects. Many predicted gene targets among the 20,000 predicted in C. elegans do not have readily identifiable phenotypes on their own and the reverse genetics approach is a powerful tool for efficient gene function discovery. Students in Bessie Bryant's science class learned about model organisms, genome projects and functional genomics. Each student put their name in the hat for door prizes mostly provided by Roche. The DNA tie was a big hit and Bessie's class of science students were great to work with.