In the early development process of many organisms, it is important to be able to minimize exposure to agents of stunted or arrested development. By decreasing the mortality rate for one generation of a species, that species is given an advantage in subsequent reproduction; by increasing the number of organisms of the same species within a limited environment, more organisms of the same species are able to reproduce, resulting in an increase in the overall population ("Reproduction and Development", 2013). However, when toxins are introduced into the environment, the viability of the embryo may decrease. Mortality rates for the generation of the species may increase and harmful defects in the reproductive cycle may emerge. Therefore it is necessary to measure and observe the effects of some toxins on embryonic development. The North American brine shrimp, or Artemia Franciscana (Artemia salina), is subject to changes in its environment. Toxins introduced into the hatching environment, such as ethanol (in concentrations of 0.1%, 0.15%, and 0.2%), can have a significant impact on the hatching process and embryonic development. The experiment sought to explore the relationship between birth defects and ethanol exposure early in development through the use of brine shrimp. However, in order to fully understand the impact that certain toxins would have on the embryonic development of North American brine shrimp, it is first important to understand its specific hatching process. North American brine shrimp go through several stages of development. before reaching adulthood. Brine shrimp are first encased in a protective capsule within the brood sac of a female brine shrimp (Drewes, C, 2006). Here, the egg develops rapidly... in the center of the paper... ethanol is present. Due to the fact that there is a clear correlation between the levels of ethanol present and the mortality rate of some aquatic life forms, it was expected that when a higher concentration of ethanol was present in the artificially constructed environment, brine shrimp would a lower hatching rate and a higher mortality rate. It was predicted that if brine shrimp cysts were exposed to ethanol levels of 0%, 0.1%, 0.15%, and 0.2%, brine shrimp cysts exposed to higher levels of ethanol would develop slower due to the fact that ethanol changes the shape of proteins when it permeates the membrane of a call. Therefore, exposing brine shrimp to 0.2% ethanol would produce higher mortality rates and more developmental problems than if brine shrimp were exposed to 0.15% ethanol, 0.1% ethanol. ethanol and 0% ethanol..