Effect of Temperature on C. elegans Acceleration

Faculty Mentor Information

Dr. Leigh Latta (Mentor), Lewis-Clark State College

Presentation Date

7-2024

Abstract

This study examined the effects of temperature on aspects of the acceleration of Caenorhabditis elegans. Three generations of C. elegans were reared in two different temperature treatments (18°C and 23°C) and their behavior was measured using WormTracker software. Results indicated that the maximum acceleration, the mean acceleration, and the standard deviation of their acceleration were impacted. Specifically, the acceleration of C. elegans was higher for individuals in the high temperature group. Because C. elegans are ectothermic organisms, their behavior is dependent on temperature. C. elegans function best within a certain temperature range (typically between 15°C to 25°C), so the increase in acceleration in response to increased temperature is likely due to an increased metabolism. Although untested, it seems likely that when the threshold of this range is crossed, behavior may go down due to a stress response.

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Effect of Temperature on C. elegans Acceleration

This study examined the effects of temperature on aspects of the acceleration of Caenorhabditis elegans. Three generations of C. elegans were reared in two different temperature treatments (18°C and 23°C) and their behavior was measured using WormTracker software. Results indicated that the maximum acceleration, the mean acceleration, and the standard deviation of their acceleration were impacted. Specifically, the acceleration of C. elegans was higher for individuals in the high temperature group. Because C. elegans are ectothermic organisms, their behavior is dependent on temperature. C. elegans function best within a certain temperature range (typically between 15°C to 25°C), so the increase in acceleration in response to increased temperature is likely due to an increased metabolism. Although untested, it seems likely that when the threshold of this range is crossed, behavior may go down due to a stress response.