Toxicity testing using Caenorhabditis elegans

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:210299

Middendorf, P J; Dusenbery, D B ^[1]; Williams, P L ^[2]

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1. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
2. Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States)

Caenorhabditis elegans is a small free-living nematode that is representative of what may be the most abundant animal group. It has been promoted as a possible model organism for toxicity testing in the laboratory and in field evaluations in part because more is known about its biology than any other animal, Toxicity tests using C. elegans have been developed with lethality, reproduction, and behavior as end points. The tests have also been developed to varying degrees using standard laboratory media, water, and soil. The results of the tests when exposing C. elegans to a variety of metals, inorganic, and organic compounds indicate it is typically at least as sensitive as other species currently used, such as Daphnia and earthworms, and is generally much easier to maintain in the laboratory. The advantages and disadvantages of C. elegans and the state of development of the tests will be discussed.

• OSTI ID: 210299
• Report Number(s): CONF-9509139--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOASSAY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
METALS
NEMATODES
ORGANIC WASTES
SENSITIVITY
SOILS
TOXIC MATERIALS
WATER