Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026
05:41
Hand Dissection of Caenorhabditis elegans Intestines
Published on: September 13, 2022
4.1K
Acoustic Compressibility of Caenorhabditis elegans
Thierry Baasch1, Peter Reichert1, Stefan Lakämper1
1Institute for Mechanical Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Biophysical Journal
|October 14, 2018
Summary
Researchers measured the acoustic compressibility of Caenorhabditis elegans larvae using acoustic manipulation. The study determined a new compressibility value crucial for developing acoustofluidic devices for biological applications.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Acoustofluidics
- Model Organism Research
Background:
- Acoustic manipulation of biological samples requires accurate physical parameters.
- Caenorhabditis elegans is a key model organism in biological sciences.
- Understanding acoustic compressibility is vital for advancing acoustofluidic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the acoustic compressibility of L1 Caenorhabditis elegans larvae.
- To provide essential data for the physics of acoustic manipulation techniques.
- To inform the design of integrated acoustofluidic devices.
Main Methods:
- Combined numerical simulations with experimental trajectory velocimetry.
- Utilized bulk acoustic wave acoustophoresis in a microfluidic channel.
- Accounted for larval size/shape variations and channel wall interactions, employing acoustic levitation.
Main Results:
- Estimated acoustic compressibility (κCe) of C. elegans larvae at 430 TPa⁻¹ ± 20 TPa⁻¹.
- Observed a significantly lower compressibility compared to previous static measurements on adult C. elegans.
- Results align with expected lipid and protein composition of C. elegans.
Conclusions:
- The determined acoustic compressibility is a critical parameter for Caenorhabditis elegans.
- This finding facilitates the engineering and design of acoustofluidic devices for biological research.
- The study provides a foundation for future advancements in acoustofluidic manipulation of biological entities.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Behavior of Concrete Under Compressive Load
630
Concrete exhibits specific behaviors under different compressive loads. Understanding this is crucial for understanding its structural integrity. When concrete undergoes uniaxial compression, it tends to develop cracks that run parallel to the direction of the force. These parallel cracks stem from localized tensile stresses that occur perpendicular to the compression direction. Additionally, angled cracks may appear due to the formation of shear planes.
As the concrete specimen fractures under...
As the concrete specimen fractures under...
630
01:30Relation Between Tensile Strength and Compressive Strength of Concrete
672
Concrete is a fundamental building material, and understanding its strengths is crucial for construction projects. The relationship between its tensile and compressive strengths is intricate, showing that while these strengths are related, they do not increase at the same rate. Tensile strength's growth is slower and is affected by various factors such as the methods used for testing, the size and shape of the specimen, the texture of the aggregate used, and the moisture content of the...
672
01:27Density, Specific Weight, Specific Gravity and Compressibility of Fluid
1.6K
Density, specific weight, specific gravity, and compressibility are fundamental properties of fluids. Density is the mass per unit volume, characterizing the mass of a fluid system. It influences buoyancy, pressure, flow dynamics, viscosity, thermal conductivity, and sound propagation. For instance, in pipeline design, accurate density measurements ensure that the pipeline can handle the fluid's mass.
Specific weight represents the weight per unit volume and is calculated by multiplying...
Specific weight represents the weight per unit volume and is calculated by multiplying...
1.6K
02:26Molecular Comparison of Gases, Liquids, and Solids
55.1K
Particles in a solid are tightly packed together (fixed shape) and often arranged in a regular pattern; in a liquid, they are close together with no regular arrangement (no fixed shape); in a gas, they are far apart with no regular arrangement (no fixed shape). Particles in a solid vibrate about fixed positions (cannot flow) and do not generally move in relation to one another; in a liquid, they move past each other (can flow) but remain in essentially constant contact; in a gas, they move...
55.1K
02:49Classifying Matter by State
103.4K
Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Matter is all around us; the air, water, soil, mountains, even our bodies are all examples of matter. Matter is divided into three states — solid, liquid, and gas — that are commonly found on earth. The fourth state of matter, plasma, occurs naturally in the interiors of stars.
103.4K
02:21Chromatin Packaging
22.1K
Each human somatic cell contains 6 billion base-pairs of DNA. Each base-pair is 0.34 nm long, which means that each diploid cell contains a staggering 2 meters of DNA. How is such a long DNA strand packed inside a nucleus measuring only 10 - 20 microns in diameter?
The chromatin
In combination with specialized DNA binding protein called Histones, the DNA double helix forms a compact DNA: protein complex called chromatin. The chromatin itself is further compacted into higher-order...
The chromatin
In combination with specialized DNA binding protein called Histones, the DNA double helix forms a compact DNA: protein complex called chromatin. The chromatin itself is further compacted into higher-order...
22.1K