Scientists investigated the effect of a new therapeutic compound, Compound X, on the secretion of glucagon from pancreatic α\alphaα-cells in culture.
The cells were incubated in a medium containing Compound X, and the experiment was repeated 12 times (n1=12n_1 = 12n1=12). A control group of cells was incubated in the same medium without Compound X, also repeated 12 times (n2=12n_2 = 12n2=12).
The mean percentages of total glucagon content secreted by the cells under each condition were recorded:
State the statistical test that should be used to compare the means of these two groups, and calculate the degrees of freedom (df\text{df}df) for this test.
The statistical test was performed, yielding a ppp-value of p<0.01p < 0.01p<0.01. Using the words probability, chance, and significant, draw a scientific conclusion from this result.