Teaching design of a multi-dimensional aging experiment using the Caenorhabditis elegans model

Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a classical model organism in the field of life sciences, possesses advantages including easy cultivation, a short life cycle, and a well-defined genetic background. It has been widely used in studies of developmental regulation, aging, genetics, and stress responses. To improve undergraduates' research literacy and experimental competence, we designed an experimental teaching system centered on C. elegans, which integrates both scientific and practical feasibility guided by the principles of "progressive learning" and inquiry-based teaching. Our system consists of four experimental modules: morphological observation, behavioral analysis, microscopic structure identification, and intestinal barrier assessment. Advanced techniques such as microscopic imaging and quantitative behavioral analysis are incorporated into the teaching process to cultivate students' experimental skills and scientific communication abilities. Teaching practice has demonstrated that our approach offers multiple advantages, including a short experimental cycle, low cost, high safety, and clear, intuitive results, which effectively stimulate students' interest in scientific research and foster the development of scientific thinking. This study provides valuable insights for teaching reform in undergraduate life science courses and for the broader application of genetic model organisms.