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Abstract
This thesis discusses the creation of a cell culture system for germ cells from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. While a culture system exists for C. elegans embryonic cells, they have poor long term survival, and cannot be used for experiments after five days. As well, the media used for this embryonic culture leads to very rapid death of germ cells. Therefore, a better culture system is needed. Here, a method for harvesting germ cells is provided as well as a media, CeM1, that has been optimized so that these cultured germ cells can remain alive and at fairly constant numbers for at least 28 days. In addition, germ cell proliferation is shown for germ cells between days 1-4 in certain conditions, which is predicted to be a result of signals from bacteria.