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) Water (control) Ethanol Tobacco Mouthwash Toothpaste Coca Cola

Step 3b Inspect the Organisms Examine 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 5 DNA Extraction Water (control) Ethanol Tobacco Mouthwash Toothpaste Coca Cola DNA

Water (control) DNA Mainly Salt

Ethanol Mainly Salt

Tobacco DNA Salt

Mouthwash DNA

Toothpaste DNA

Coca Cola DNA