Chunking Worms

1. Make sure the bottom of the plate to which you are moving the worms is labeled with the strain name and date.

2. Have both your old plate (starved worms, no bacteria) and new plate (no worms, bacteria) ready.

   

3. Have the necessary tools ready.

   

4. Place the spatula in the jar of ethanol and then pass the spatula through the flame to sterilize it.

   

5. After the flame has extinguished from the spatula, use the sterilized spatula to cut through the agar in the center of the plate and cut out a ~1 cm² area.

   

6. Remove the cut-out area using the spatula.

   

7. Place the agar chunk form the old plate worm-side down at the edge of the bacterial lawn on the new plate.

   

8. After you place the agar chunk down, hold the spatula in the flame of the bunsen burner to melt/burn any remaining agar and worms.

   

9. Place the spatula back in the ethanol to sterilize again before preparing the next sample.

10. When done chunking, place the plates in the incubator at their optimal growing temperature.