title: Sample size calculation for experimental design
body: <p>I have three treatments (Wild type, Mutant1 and Mutant2); I request inputs on how to decide the sample size that would be statistically significant (alpha &lt;0.05) with high statistical power (1-beta=0.8).</p>
  <p>Questions</p>
  <p>I understand that we need the information of effect size. We approach this problem if we don't know the expected effect size prior; a trial experiment to estimate the effect size. In such case if we want to estimate the effect size with trial experiment; what could be the sample size to start with; a high (n=10) or as low  as n=3? Can n=3 among treatments provide a good estimate of effect size or n=10 is better to get this estimate. Let's be specific; if we have resource for n=10 max. and we are given option to choose between n=3 or n=10 for this trial</p>