Follow That Flush: Using Biotechnology to Stop Outbreaks with SYBR Safe

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT:

Wastewater testing is a public health tool that helps scientists track specific diseases in a community. In this experiment, students use electrophoresis to test simulated water samples for bacteria and viruses. By learning how wastewater monitoring works, students see how biotechnology helps protect public health.

• **Includes SYBR® Safe DNA Stain, NOT FlashBlue™ DNA Stain**
• Students simulate real-world disease surveillance by analyzing wastewater for Norovirus and E. coli using gel electrophoresis.
• Hands-on use of core biotech tools to detect and identify pathogens in simulated water samples.
• Demonstrates how wastewater testing gives early warnings of outbreaks and informs public health responses.
• This project was made possible by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA), Grant Number 2R44GM143977-02, from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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