Caenorhabditis elegans
Day 1
For this lab, we looked at microscopic nematodes (or worms) through a microscope to observe their characteristics and behavior. According to dictionary.reference.com, a nematode is "any unsegmented worm of the phylum Nematoda, having an elongated, cylindrical body; a round worm". Before we started the lab, students were chosen to research or observe C. elegans. I was chosen to research while my partner, Virginia, was aloud to observe. I researched and generated questions, then I observed the worms.
Research
Questions
Observations
- a free-living, non-parasitic soil nematode
- 1mm in length and feeds on bacteria
- 10,000 worms per petri dish
- has five pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes
- Hermaphrodites, the ratio of the sex chromosome to autosomes determines its sex
- XX = hermaphrodite
- XO = male
- short life cycle: egg takes about three days to hatch and its lifespan is around 2-3 weeks
- worms contain a constant 959 cells
Questions
- How are these worms used to benefit the world?
- Where can these worms be found naturally?
Observations
- worms in big groups
- worms in little groups
- tiny worms
- big worms
- metallic silver color
- movement is similar to snakes
Day 2
After observing and researching nematodes, we all went outside as a class to try and find some nematodes. We took samples of dirt, mud or any type of land. My partner, Gabs, and I went to two different places to collect our samples. In the picture above, our samples are labeled: Sample #1 is on the right and Sample #2 is on the left.
Sample #1 - found at the base of a tree by the turf next to the sign that said "Raptors refuse to litter"
Observations
- clumpy & doesn't stick together very well
- all the chunks are a different size
- plants & small pieces of bark are mixed in the soil
- the substance is a dark brown color
Sample #2 - found in the far corner of the lunch tables under a rock which is next to good sized puddle
Observations
- soil is damp or very moist
- it's squishy
- sticks together very well
- the substance seems to stick to itself
- no chunks
- looks like feces
- the substance is gray/brown/green color
In conclusion, my partner and I collected a nematode in Sample #2 which was in a cold, moist area where worms can thrive. I now know that nematodes enjoy damp environments because of the bacteria growth and nutrients it provides the worms.