Regardless of your STEM interest listed above, take this opportunity to nerd out and talk to us about whatever STEM rabbit hole you have found yourself falling into. Be as specific or broad as you would like.

At the Biotechnology Open House at Santiago Canyon College, I participated in gel electrophoresis, separating red, blue, and purple dyes by running current through the gel with the buffer solution. The purple dye separated into two bands of blue and red. Observing that the red moved farther than the blue, I concluded that the molecules were smaller and moved through the gel quicker. After learning that electrophoresis is even used to separate DNA, I had the opportunity to extract DNA from my cheek cells. I was amazed to see my own genetic blueprint in a tube! These experiments excited me to learn more about how biology and engineering can create pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and environmental products to benefit society.