- no germ line
Animals lack all germline progenitor cells, thereby resulting in the complete absence of a germline.
- rachis absent
The nucleus-free core of germline cytoplasm in the gonad is missing.
- rachis morphology variant
Any variation in the form, structure or composition of the nucleus-free core of germ line cytoplasm in the gonad compared to control animals. In the C. elegans germline, nuclei exiting mitosis and entering meiosis are arranged along the cortex of the germline, partially enclosed by cellular membrane, forming a nucleus-free core of germline cytoplasm, called the rachis.
- germ cell compartment expansion variant
Animals exhibit variations in the increase in size of compartments of the germline. In the C. elegans germline, syncytial compartments enlarge just prior to and coincident with the loop region, eventually abscising, to become fully enclosed germ cells (oocytes).
- rudimentary gonad
Animals have very few or no germline nuclei and gonad arms that are very small or missing.
- rachis narrow
The nucleus-free core of germline cytoplasm in the gonad is not as wide as control animals.