Which dose produces the desired response in 50% of participants?

The effective dose refers to the dose of a medication or substance that produces the desired therapeutic effect in a specific percentage of the population, usually 50% in pharmacology studies. This measure, often denoted as ED50, helps quantify the relationship between the dose and the response of the population to that dose.

In this context, the effective dose is critical for determining the proper dosage that maximizes therapeutic efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. It is a standard parameter used during drug development to establish safety and effectiveness profiles for medications before they are approved for general use.

The other options do not fit the context of the question in the same manner. The lethal dose refers specifically to the dose that causes death in a specified percentage of a population, which is not related to producing a therapeutic effect. Toxic reactions describe adverse effects from medications but do not indicate a beneficial response. The minimum effective dose indicates the smallest amount of a drug that achieves any intended effect, but it does not provide the context of the percentage of the population that responds to that dose, as effective dose does.