Candy Electrophoresis Lab

Candy Electrophoresis Lab

          In this lab, we extracted the artificial food dye from various candies. After extracting the dye, we used gel electrophoresis to separate them by size. When we analyzed the results of our gel, all of our experimental samples were where they were supposed to be, and everything ran smoothly. Some of our dyes spilled a little outside of the designated vats, but other than that, they were fine. 

          Out of the four dyes pictured in the manual, citrus red 2 would be the one to migrate similarly to the dyes we examined in this lab, since it was stated that smaller molecules would be able to move faster through the gel pores than larger molecules.

          Since popular dog food manufacturers appear to put more red dye in the food than any other color, it can only mean that they do that to appeal more to the dog, since animals can perceive red clearer than any other color in the spectrum. This is why it would be common to put artificial food dye in dog food.

          The two factors that control the distance the colored dye solutions migrate are negatively charged molecules and positively charged molecules. The negatively charged molecules move toward the positive electrode and positively charged molecules move toward the negative electrode. Any molecules with no charge will not leave the well.

          The component of the electrophoresis system that causes the molecules to be separated by size are the electrical currents and charges inside the molecules. 

          DNA molecules with molecular weights of 600, 1000, 2000, and 5000 daltons would separate with the least amount of daltons to stretch faster, but not as far as the others.