1. FINDing NEMAtodes: C. elegans an Affordable and Interesting Model Organism
Susan Groff
Middle College High Santa Ana College
(714) ext

2. Life Cycle of C. elegans Egg to adult (3 days) Life Span 3-4 weeks Hermaphrodite & males Mutant worms

3. Model Organism in the Classroom
C. elegans
Standards
40% human genome homologs
Quick reproductive rate=rapid data collection
Eukaryotic organism
959 cells
Genome & Developmental stages mapped
Supports standards
Provides authentic labs
Cell biology
Genetics
Evolution
Physiology

4. Affordable & Versatile
Obtain free from: Prepared Nematode Growth Medium (NMG plates): IPM Scientific NGM-lite plates $16.50/sleeve 10 plates/sleeve Purchase kit from: Carolina Biological Supply Company # $67.00
Silencing Genomes Provides : Strains E. Coli OP50 Protocols Recipes Resources

5. Silencing Genomes: Strain Order
N2 Wildtype
him-6
dpy-13
Unc-5

6. Easy Observational Activity
Obtain worms from Dolan DNA Learning Center:
Silencing Genomes
Using a dissection microscope, have students observe N2 (Wildtype) and mutant strains
Compare and contrast behavior of each mutant and N2

7. Extension Activities NASA & C. elegans in space
DNALC.org Silencing Genomes RNAi
Orions Quest:

8. Why study development in space?
NASA & C. elegans
Why study development in space?

9. Resources http://www.wormatlas.org/index.html Embryo Hermaphrodite
Male