C. elegans Ecology Experiment Kit

Product Details

In as little as two weeks your students can become working scientists using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Because this small nematode—1-mm long as an adult—responds like a higher order animal, it is used in many industries and research facilities as the test subject for toxicity, genetic, and behavioral studies. Thousands of individual animals can live in a single Petri dish on a lawn of Escherichia coli. C. elegans rapidly progress from egg to adult in 3 or 4 days and live an average 2 to 3 weeks in a laboratory setting. In this experiment, students use pre-diluted heavy metal solutions to determine the behavioral effect of heavy metals on a normal C. elegans versus that of a toxicity mutant C. elegans. After becoming experienced culturing this model organism, your students may come up with some interesting experiments of their own. A great opportunity for inquiry! Includes all heavy metal solutions and necessary lab supplies. A redemption card is included for all perishable material. Please allow 2–3 weeks for delivery of perishable materials after sending in the redemption card. Microscopes and a water bath are required and available separately.