Glowing worms: A low-cost fluorescence kit for toxicological education using Caenorhabditis elegans

Exposures to metals such as lead and cadmium due to environmental pollution cause cardiovascular, liver, kidney, and other diseases. We used the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans paired with an inexpensive "do-it-yourself" fluorescent microscopy setup to highlight the effects of cadmium exposure on expression of the metallothionein-producing gene mtl-2 to enhance education on the effects of heavy metals. This approach enables observation of GFP fluorescence in worms outside of laboratory settings, while also allowing quantification of gene expression after chemical exposure. We developed an activity centering this experiment for the Museum of Life and Science located in Durham, NC. Participants successfully observed the effects of cadmium on C. elegans and made meaningful connections to both environmental and human health.