The Effect of Environmental Toxins on Motor Behavior of Caenorhabditis Elegans
Session Number
Project ID: MEDH 49
Advisor(s)
Dr. Nicole Ross, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Discipline
Medical and Health Sciences
Start Date
17-4-2024 10:00 AM
End Date
17-4-2024 10:15 AM
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare degenerative neuromuscular disease that affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Several recent studies have focused on a link between ALS and exposure to environmental toxins such as microplastics and herbicides. To simulate the potential effects of microplastics on a functioning nervous system, we introduced Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to the glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup and Polybead® polystyrene microspheres. We recorded the thrashing behavior of C. elegans before and after exposure to both Roundup and the polystyrene microspheres, as well as performing one-way ANOVA testing afterwards. Our findings revealed that varied concentrations of glyphosate and polystyrene microspheres significantly correlated with changes in thrashing behavior. From this, we concluded that exposure to varying levels of environmental toxins may lead to a change in motor behavior, typically shown through a decrease in thrashing activity. The insight gained from these experiments will give further insight into the effectiveness of C. elegans as a model for ALS and what specific proteins are affected when in the presence of microplastics.
The Effect of Environmental Toxins on Motor Behavior of Caenorhabditis Elegans
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare degenerative neuromuscular disease that affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Several recent studies have focused on a link between ALS and exposure to environmental toxins such as microplastics and herbicides. To simulate the potential effects of microplastics on a functioning nervous system, we introduced Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to the glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup and Polybead® polystyrene microspheres. We recorded the thrashing behavior of C. elegans before and after exposure to both Roundup and the polystyrene microspheres, as well as performing one-way ANOVA testing afterwards. Our findings revealed that varied concentrations of glyphosate and polystyrene microspheres significantly correlated with changes in thrashing behavior. From this, we concluded that exposure to varying levels of environmental toxins may lead to a change in motor behavior, typically shown through a decrease in thrashing activity. The insight gained from these experiments will give further insight into the effectiveness of C. elegans as a model for ALS and what specific proteins are affected when in the presence of microplastics.