LD50? What the heck?

[shaggybill]

After three months of thinking that this isnt important, I want to know what it is. I know it stands for Lethal Dose 50, but what is it relevant to? For instance, I was just reading:

LD50 Mg/Kg (mice) = 0.010
Average Yield (Mg) = 44.2
Total LD50 Doses = 218000

Could someone explain to me what all this means?

Muchas gracias...

[BWSmith]

lethal dose to 50% of mice. Mg of venom to Kg of victim. So if the LD50 is .1 Mg/Kg and the average yield is 1Mg, then it will be fatal to 50% of 1 Kg victims. Not a realistic example, but makes it simple to understand.

[Mustangrde1]

Brian . I 'll pitch in for that hook the idiot needs one especially if he is performing on TV in front of kids.