clec-5 as a genetic regulator of reproductive aging in Caenorhabditis elegans
Date
2024
Authors
Tikhonova, Anna
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Victoria
Abstract
The research aims to investigate how the female reproductive system can be influenced by external factors such as age and nutrition. This study uses the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans due to its high genetic conservation across to mammals, including the regulatory pathway that controls reproductive functions. In preliminary research, C. elegans displayed accelerated reproductive aging and rapid oocyte deterioration in glucose enriched environments. If we select 10 evolutionary conserved genes appearing to be most elevated in oocytes, these will play a role in reproductive regulation. My study also intends to examine the effect of downregulating these genes to determine the potential genetic regulators. The influences will be evaluated based on specimens’ late-mating capacity— capability to produce offspring when mated later in adulthood. For this procedure, hypochlorite-synchronized eggs are produced and reach adulthood, when the downregulation of genes is conducted. After late-mating, the progeny will be assessed for the percentage of worms able to reproduce. Results should provide insight into the effects of genes on reproductive aging, and by extension, influences on human reproductive systems.
Description
Keywords
C. elegans, reproduction, health, gene, glucose, aging