Counting Caenorhabditis elegans: Protocol Optimization and Applications for Population Growth and Toxicity Studies in Liquid Medium.

ABSTRACT: The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is used extensively in molecular, toxicological and genetics research. However, standardized methods for counting nematodes in liquid culture do not exist despite the wide use of nematodes and need for accurate measurements. Herein, we provide a simple and affordable counting protocol developed to maximize count accuracy and minimize variability in liquid nematode culture. Sources of variability in the counting process were identified and tested in 14 separate experiments. Three variables resulted in significant effects on nematode count: shaking of the culture, priming of pipette tips, and sampling location within a microcentrifuge tube. Between-operator variability did not have a statistically significant effect on counts, even among differently-skille

SUBMITTER: Scanlan LD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5772475 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature