Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1
Behavioral Analysis in
Caenorhabditis elegans
Yuki Tsukada and Ikue Mori
Abstract
Behavior is an eventual output of animals' responses to environmental
stimuli and is also an outcome of highly orchestrated mechanisms with different
levels. Understanding the principles of behavioral regulation thus requires the illu-
mination of such mechanisms from multiple angles. Model animals provide practi-
cal solutions for this requirement by accumulating different aspects of knowledge
about focused animal. In this chapter, we introduce behavioral analyses for
Caenorhabditis elegans
(
C. elegans
)
,
the simplest multicellular model animal,
which is useful for various kinds of studies. We can incorporate different kinds of
approaches to shed light on the mechanisms of behavioral regulation by using this
convenient model animal. This chapter presents description of typical population
analysis, single animal analysis, use of genetically encoded calcium indicators
(GECI), and combination of these approaches for the study of
C. elegans
behavior.
Computerized automated methods are also mentioned for effi cient experimental
design.
Keywords
Behavioral analysis
C. elegans
Caenorhabditis elegans
Calcium
imaging Computerized methods Genetically encoded calcium indicators
Population analysis
