miniPCR® Food Safety Lab: Food Truck Trouble!

Use PCR, restriction digestion, and gel electrophoresis to track pathogenic e. coli to its source.

• Techniques: Micro pipetting, pcr, restriction digest, gel electrophoresis

• Topics: Microbiology. infectious disease, molecular diagnostics
• Time required: 120 minutes; can be split over 2 or 3 class periods
• Level: General high school, advanced high school, college

Engage students with a compelling real-world scenario that showcases rapid pathogen detection methods used by public health officials, highlighting their vital role in protecting community health. Students investigate an outbreak of pathogenic E. coli bacteria at a community food truck festival. Through patient surveys and DNA analysis, students must trace the outbreak to its source to contain the spread and protect the general public.

This kit provides hands-on experience in differentiating bacterial strains using molecular diagnostic techniques. Students will perform PCR, restriction enzyme digests, and gel electrophoresis on DNA samples from suspected foods, learning to identify the source of a simulated foodborne illness and implement strategies to eliminate the public health threat.