WormBot

WormBot automates parallel survival and behavioral phenotyping of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans for lifespan and healthspan research.

Key Features:

• Parallel Experimentation: Conducts 144 parallel survival and behavioral phenotyping experiments simultaneously.
• Standardized Hardware: Operates with standard 12-well tissue culture plates compatible with solid agar media.
• Imaging Capabilities: Captures time-lapse bright field images and real-time video micrographs to monitor lifespan and healthspan metrics.
• Automation: Automates survival analysis and behavioral phenotyping to enable large-scale time-course data collection.

Scientific Applications:

• Aging Research: Enables lifespan and healthspan studies in C. elegans through automated survival assays and behavioral monitoring.
• High-Throughput Phenotyping: Supports large-scale experiments for comparative survival and behavioral phenotyping across many conditions.
• Genetic and Environmental Studies: Facilitates investigation of genetic and environmental factors influencing aging using parallel assays and detailed imaging data.

Methodology:

Time-lapse bright field imaging and real-time video micrograph acquisition are used for survival and behavioral phenotyping on 12-well agar plates.