Chemically defined medium and <it>Caenorhabditis elegans</it>

• Main Authors: Kozak Elena, Szewczyk Nathaniel J, Conley Catharine A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2003-10-01
• Series: BMC Biotechnology
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6750/3/19

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>C. elegans </it>has been established as a powerful genetic system. Use of a chemically defined medium (<it>C. elegans </it>Maintenance Medium (CeMM)) now allows standardization and systematic manipulation of the nutrients that animals receive. Liquid cultivation allows automated culturing and experimentation and should be of use in large-scale growth and screening of animals.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We find that CeMM is versatile and culturing is simple. CeMM can be used in a solid or liquid state, it can be stored unused for at least a year, unattended actively growing cultures may be maintained longer than with standard techniques, and standard <it>C. elegans </it>protocols work well with animals grown in defined medium. We also find that there are caveats to using defined medium. Animals in defined medium grow more slowly than on standard medium, appear to display adaptation to the defined medium, and display altered growth rates as they change the composition of the defined medium.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>As was suggested with the introduction of <it>C. elegans </it>as a potential genetic system, use of defined medium with <it>C. elegans </it>should prove a powerful tool.</p>