What is a negative control?

A negative control is a crucial component in scientific experiments. It is a test where the expected outcome is no effect or no change. The purpose of a <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/negative%20control" title="Negative Control">negative control</a> is to identify potential confounding factors or sources of error in an experiment that might produce a false positive result.

Here's a breakdown of important aspects:

• Purpose:

  • To ensure that the experimental setup itself is not causing the observed results.
  • To identify background noise or contamination that could lead to a false conclusion.
  • To provide a baseline for comparison against the experimental group(s).

• Characteristics:

  • Lacks the treatment or variable being tested.
  • Should be identical to the experimental group in all other aspects.
  • Expected to produce a negative result (no change or no effect).

• Examples:

  • In a drug trial, a <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/placebo" title="Placebo">placebo</a> is a common negative control.
  • In a PCR experiment, a <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/no%20template%20control" title="No Template Control">no template control</a> (NTC) contains all the reaction components except for the DNA template.
  • In cell culture experiments, a <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/mock%20treatment" title="Mock Treatment">mock treatment</a> (e.g., adding the solvent or carrier without the active compound) can be used.

• Interpretation:

  • If the <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/negative%20control" title="Negative Control">negative control</a> produces a positive result, it indicates that there is a problem with the experimental design or execution.
  • Possible sources of error could include contamination, non-specific binding, or an inherent property of the experimental system.
  • The experiment results must be interpreted with caution, and the source of the false positive should be investigated and corrected before drawing conclusions.

In summary, the <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/negative%20control" title="Negative Control">negative control</a> is a vital tool for ensuring the validity and reliability of experimental results.