For this experiment I was testing C. elegans mutants in behavioral experiments. I was searching for genes that were directing and shaping wild type pheromone response behaviors.

To do that I would place my worms on petri dishes that had synthetic pheromone (ascrosides 2, 3, and 8) at biological concentrations in only certain areas.

I then monitored the worms movements and distributions for the next two hours watching as they were attracted to and then desensitized to the pheromones.

Wild type males will arrive in the pheromone spots within 20 minutes. If they're alone they will desensitize and then leave after about 2 hours. If there are other males that have also made their way to the same location. The worms will interact with each other and not leave for many more hours.

Wild type hermaphrodites have behavior that appears indifferent to the pheromones but mutant behavioral analysis suggests that wild type hermaphrodites can sense but are not attracted to the pheromones

If the experiment is done with hungry worms- the hermaphrodites will be attracted temporarily and males will not be attracted at all.

I found that worms that have mutations in genes related to: circadian rhythm (pdf-1 ,pdf-2, pdfr-1)
serotonin biosynthesis and reception (tph-1 and ser-7)
and some related to dopamine, and octopamine signaling (cat-2, bas-1; cat-4)
have abnormal behaviors in pheromone response.

This is the version I designed to
accomodate worms with locomotor deficiencies.