“Facilitated adaptive evolution of Caenorhabditis elegans by use of the chemical paraquat” Jeremy Northway A review of healthy aging research:

Introduction : Oxidative Stress & Aging Reactive oxygen species (ROS)are a known factor in aging Paraquat (PQ) is a source of ROS C. elegans is a model organism useful for studies in experimental evolution o Fast generation time o Highly variable population size Image by Dr. Denver and J. Northway ll_membrane_disruptors/text.html

Introduction: My research focus & goals – Explore the qualities of PQ in experimental adaptation studies of a C. elegans population Hypothesis: C. elegans experimental populations chronically exposed to PQ will evolve increased resistance to PQ

Methodology: Experimental evolution 0 PQ 10mM PQ 20mM PQ Freeze 37 Days 37 Days 21 Days Time 

Methodology: Pilot Assay (Time to reproductive maturity) Large population for each line Lines N2 (- control) 0 PQ evolved 10mM A 3 10mM B 3 10mM C 3 20mM A 3 Methodology: Assay x8 Measured:  Survivorship (%)  Time to maturity (Days) Measured:  Survivorship (%)  Time to maturity (Days)

Conclusion & Future Opportunities Observations show: o Evolutionary resistance to paraquat in ten generations o Potential trade-off of evolved lines on and off of paraquat of time to reproductive maturity o Increased survivorship of lines evolved on paraquat Potential future directions: o Second assay checking other life history characters (eg. fecundity, lifespan) o Molecular characterization of resistance o Identify gene(s) responsible for resistance phenotype o Identified gene(s) could provide potential therapeutic targets for human aging research

Acknowledgments