The C. elegans Lifespan Machine and its application to the temperature scaling of lifespan

Lifespan results from the complex interaction between genetic, environmental and stochastic factors, and therefore varies widely even among isogenic individuals. In C. elegans , the action of molecular mechanisms on aging can be inferred from their statistical effects on the distribution of lifespans within populations. However, such investigations are hindered by limitations in the methods available for collecting lifespan data. To enable the rapid collection of survival curves at any desired statistical resolution, we developed an automated platform for determining the lifespans of large populations of nematodes.