Caenorhabditis Elegans

Abstract Caenorhabditis elegans are androdioecious species consisting of males and self-fertilizing hermaphrodites. Males in nature are typically rare, although if given the chance they will successfully mate with hermaphrodites (Murray 2011). These organisms are often used as model organisms due to its simple anatomy along with easily identified characteristics. . It has a short lifespan, therefore analyzing the life span of several generations can be carried out in a short period of time and provide a better understanding of biological processes, such as gene regulation and sex determination(Padilla 2014). The purpose of this experiment is to determine the pattern of inheritance between a cross of mutant C.elegans with a long

Unknown A was mutant (number 1/dumpy), unknown B (mutant number 2/long and slinder), and unknown C (mutant number 3 /uncoordinated). This allows to observe different traits. Compare mutant strains to a wild type hermaphrodite. Set up a cross with assigned phenotype. For each cross conducted, C. elegans were plated on agar containing Nematode Growth Media (NGR) and a “lawn” of E.coli bacteria; which provided a food source for the C. elegans.

The next part of the experiment we to collected 3 mutated hermaphrodites in each petri dish and collect 6 Fog-2 males (normal). For the cross breeding we captured hermaphrodites in the L4 stages. C.elegans hermaphrodites in the L4 stage cannot self-fertilize. Also collected L4 stage Fog-2 males because we don’t want older adults who are, about to die in their life cycle. To capture the worms we used a dissecting microscope and glass wired spatula to transfer them. Our group next week would observe the next generation’s offspring to calculate the mutation

No wildtype (Fog-2/normal) was identified in F2 generation. Evidence concludes that, the mutant allele is sex-linked recessive. The fall back to the experiment was we had a high ratio of hermaphrodites in F1 and F2 generations. The explanation for this occurrence is the hermaphrodites self-fertilized. This due to a low number of males breeding with the females or accidentally capturing a self-fertilized hermaphrodite. For the experiments during cross breeding, we took the precaution to place a high number of males to hermaphrodites. Higher number of males increases the percentage, males to copulate with hermaphrodites. Since the life cycle is short for c.elegans, it’s hard to tell how many males actually breed at the