Students expose bacteria to 4 different concentrations of tobacco extract and observe the dose-response mutagenic effect on the bacteria. The bacteria change from red to white when they mutate. Photos of this change can be seen online here.

Since mutations are an important precursor to cancer, this lab would work well in a unit on cancer or genetics. It would also complement discussion about toxicology or lab techniques commonly used in biological sciences.

Teacher Guides / Student Worksheets (In pdf format. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
200kb-download	Tobacco Induced Mutations - Teacher and Student Guide
178kb-download	Lab Notebooks Guide
49kb-download	Guide to Bacteria Plating
21kb-download	Grid for percent of Bacteria

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Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center
University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, Room 244
PO Box 210207, Tucson, AZ, USA  85721-0207
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