Developmental stage(s) amenable to genetic modification

Identify which developmental stage(s) of tardigrades—embryo, juvenile, or adult—are amenable to efficient genetic modification (e.g., microinjection, electroporation, DIPA-CRISPR) to enable heritable transgenesis and genome editing.

Background

Efficient gene delivery often depends on targeting specific developmental stages, as in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans. The paper notes that the appropriate stage for tardigrades is unknown.

Resolving this will unlock transgenic expression of activity indicators and optogenetic tools necessary for systems neuroscience experiments in tardigrades.