Linking Food Science to Biotechnology: Unlock the Color of Candies

NGSS-aligned with MS-PS1. Investigate how agarose gel electrophoresis unlocks the color code used by food scientists to make colorful candies. Students will extract color activities from common candies and separate the dyes on agarose gel electrophoresis. A fun lab extension involves the use of candy to build a DNA model. • Explore the biochemistry behind colorful candies • Understand the biology behind gel electrophoresis • Perform agarose gel electrophoresis to separate different sized dye molecules • Extract, identify, and size different food dyes from popular candies