What's in Our Waters Jr. (WOW Jr.) is an environmental outreach program designed to teach fourth grade elementary students about watershed protection. This program is unique because of the partnership that brings together students, teachers, scientists, and water resource professionals to promote science education and environmental stewardship in…

Introducing students to the process of scientific inquiry is a major goal of high school and college labs. Environmental toxins are of great concern and public interest. Modifications of a vertebrate developmental toxicity assay using the frog Xenopus laevis can support student-initiated toxicology experiments that are relevant to humans. Teams of…

A modified version "Tobacco Induced Mutations" of Ames assay experiment provides a meaningful context for students to learn about the concept of mutations by using a known carcinogen that is tobacco. This experiment shows toxicological concept of the dose/response relationship and visually demonstrates when a mutation have occurred in bacteria…

Presents a case study on the story of Dr. Frances Kelsey and the drug thalidomide, which was widely used in Europe for its therapeutic effects in the 1960s and later identified as having multiple effects on the body during development by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Describes the drug approval process in the United States and…

Hornworms are good assay organisms for leaf toxins, and can be raised on an artificial medium ("chow"), consisting of corn meal, soy flour, dry milk, yeast and other additives and preservatives. The hornworm assay is less useful in ecological and toxicological research, but is very useful in learning about experimental design and hypothesis…

Introduces a brine shrimp assay to demonstrate the effects of the biological activity of herbal remedies. Describes two protocols, one using aqueous extracts and the other using methanol extracts. (Contains 21 references.) (YDS)

Article tells the story of how a New York City customs man was bit by a King Cobra from Thailand and the medical treatment he received. Describes three types of snake venoms: hemotoxins, cytotoxins, and neurotoxins. Explains how horses are used to produce antitoxins and side effects of the antitoxins on humans. (PR)

Describes a microbial bioassay, using molds as test organisms, that demonstrates toxicities of environmental pollutants. Includes laboratory methods and applications for the experiment. (MDH)