Using Grass Germination to Measure the Toxicity of Household Substances & Teach Statistical Methods

John Morris; Margie Winter

doi:10.1525/abt.2021.83.1.42

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12 February 2021 Using Grass Germination to Measure the Toxicity of Household Substances & Teach Statistical Methods

John Morris, Margie Winter

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The American Biology Teacher, 83(1):42-47 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2021.83.1.42

Abstract

We describe a series of three experiments in which students develop a model system for measuring the LC50 of household substances, using grass seed as the model organism. Students use statistical methods to compare two samples (using chi-square and Student's t-tests), conduct a two-level multifactor experiment to look at multiple factors simultaneously and observe interactions, and make serial dilutions to measure the LC50 over a threefold concentration range. The experimental series was very inexpensive to run and tended to provide very successful LC50 measurements.

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John Morris and Margie Winter "Using Grass Germination to Measure the Toxicity of Household Substances & Teach Statistical Methods," The American Biology Teacher 83(1), 42-47, (12 February 2021). https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2021.83.1.42

Published: 12 February 2021

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