Activity #2: Ethanol and Tobacco Toxicity in Living Animal Cells

Step 1

Infusion

• Infusion of hay, dry grass, or pond mud

• Opacity Check: try reading a newspaper through the culture jar to check for cloudiness

Step 2 - Treatments

• Add various substances to other culture tubes– Water (leaves one tube untreated as a control)– Alcohol, tobacco– Here we also tested mouthwash and toothpaste

Step 3a – Examine Tubes

Visually

Observe and Note Immediate Effects

(Repeat again after two days)

Wat

er (c

ontro

l)Et

hano

lTob

acco

Mou

thw

ash

Toot

hpas

teCoc

a Col

a

Step 3b Inspect the OrganismsExamine Organisms Under the Microscope

– Initially and Two Days Later

Step 4. Effects of Treatment Over

Time

As seen under a microscope, number and type of protists should change rapidly – in a matter of hours

Step 5DNA Extraction

Wate

r (c

ontro

l)Eth

anol

Tobac

co

Mou

thwas

hToo

thpa

steCoc

a Col

a

DNA

Water (control)

DNA

Mainly Salt

Ethanol

Mainly Salt

              

            

              

            

Tobacco

DNA

Salt

Mouthwash

DNA

Toothpaste

DNA

Coca Cola

DNA