Reading time: ~2 min · Part of the free certification in peptide science
A practical checklist to apply to any article on a peptide, from an abstract in a database to a full trial.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which compound exactly? | Full peptide or fragment (Tβ4 versus TB-500), salt and source; were its identity and purity verified? |
| In which system? | Cells, animals or people; species and disease model |
| Which route and which exposure? | Evidence from one route does not transfer to another |
| Is there an adequate control group? | Without a control, the effect cannot be attributed |
| How many subjects? | Small samples produce unstable results |
| What is the primary endpoint? | Real outcome or surrogate marker? |
| Is the effect relevant or just significant? | A low p-value says nothing about the size of the effect |
| Was it replicated? | Independent replication is the best test of robustness |
| Who funded it? | Context needed to interpret the design and conclusions |
Statistical significance versus relevance
With a large enough sample, a minimal, irrelevant difference can be «statistically significant». With a small sample, an important effect may not reach significance. What matters is the effect size and its confidence interval: how much the outcome changes and how precisely it was estimated.
How to communicate the evidence
A good professional practice is to accompany any claim about a compound with the level of evidence that supports it: «in animal models», «in a phase 2 trial with X participants», «without controlled trials in humans». That precision protects the listener and the credibility of whoever is informing.
The goal of this certification is not to memorize compounds, but to know what is known and what is not about each one. That distinction is what separates scientific information from advertising.
Catalogue compounds mentioned in this lesson
Take the module 13 quiz and earn your certificate
The certification is free: read the lessons, pass each module quiz and the final exam, and download your PDF certificate with a verifiable ID.
Go to the quiz →Educational content for scientific purposes. It distinguishes preclinical from clinical evidence and is not medical advice, diagnosis or a recommendation for use. NeoPeptidos products are sold labelled for research use only (RUO).