Candy Electrophoresis Lab

1. One of our sample dyes produces a different color than any of the reference dye. It has a color of brown mixed with a little purple.  The color is different because the M&M candy uses the artificial dye that produces its brown color.

2. The fast green FCF would migrate similarly to the dye I examined because it is negatively charged, just like the reference dye, and would move toward the positively charged cathode. Its structure also looks very similar to Blue 1.

3. Dog manufacturers put artificial colors in dog food to enhance the look of the food and attract people to buy it.

5. The two factors that control the distance the colored dye migrate are the length of the DNA of the colored dye solutions and the charge of the electric current.

6. The positive charge of the electric current helps move the dyes through the gel.

7. The small pores in the gel and the electric current causes the dyes to migrate with different speed and be separated based on their sizes.

8. The molecules with molecular weight of 600 daltons would travel the furthest because it is the lightest and can travel the fastest. The molecule that goes after with the weight of 1000 daltons would be the second furthest, followed by 2000 daltons molecule. The molecule with the heaviest weight of 5000 daltons would travel the least range of distance.