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The Effect of Nutritional State on Social Behaviors in C. elegans

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In order to determine if nutrition has an effect on social behaviors, this project looks at C. elegans and their responses to endogenously produced small-molecules called ascarosides. This project involves the classification of behavior using behavior assays and different nutritional states. In particular, the project looks at sex-specific behaviors. It was found that both sexes are attracted to ascr#3 and ascr#8 when well-fed. When starved, males are still attracted to ascr#8 whereas hermaphrodites lose their attraction. Growing males and hermaphrodites on glucose plates do not change their response to ascr#8 in either the fed or starved condition. Using the daf-2 mutant, growing hermaphrodites on glucose plates or agar plates did not elicit a response to ascr#8 in the fed condition.

  • This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.
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  • E-project-043014-115553
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  • 2014
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  • 2014-04-30
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