Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Somebody, please help me, I'm so heartbroken. It is so hard to pick C.elegans, they are so small, I don't know what to do. In the worm world, it is spoken about so casually as if it is not even an issue. I have tried all kinds of picks - eyebrow hair, platinum wire - straight/flattened/curled. I have tried sticking my pick into lot of E.coli to make it sticky. It just would't work. The worms are always getting away and I am always poking holes into the agar. It's been 2 and a half months already and I haven't been able to pick a single worm. I feel so dejected. I do not understand how to develop this skill, somebody please help me!

Sorry to hear about the problem, but I can understand why you are frustrated. I would be too!

Now, about those slippery worms...

I did a search for how to pick up C elegans and found several videos and websites:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTQtkQm5hOw
http://www.wormbook.org/chapters/www_st ... ntain.html
https://www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-t ... -C-elegans

You have probably seen all these sites and tried the methods. As I read them I see that other people--graduate students and scientists both--have trouble picking up the worms, so don't feel bad. It is HARD.

I read about two methods that sounded reasonable. One is to simply pick up a chunk of agar containing worms using a small lab spatula. I don't know what you do with the worms after you pick them, but this should get some.

The other method was to use a piece of lab filter paper. The paper is placed near the worm and when it crawls on it you can lift it up and move it. Again, I need to know why you are moving them, how many you need and what you do afterwards before I can really suggest something that might work best.

Let us know if this is any help. Tell us more about your project. We'll try to help you.

Sybee