Bluo-Gal is widely used in molecular biology and biochemistry as a chromogenic substrate for detecting β-galactosidase activity. It is particularly valuable in techniques like X-gal staining, where it helps visualize gene expression in cells, tissues, or bacterial colonies. When cleaved by β-galactosidase, Bluo-Gal produces a blue precipitate, making it a key tool in identifying lacZ gene expression in cloning and genetic engineering experiments. It is also utilized in histochemical assays to study cellular localization and enzyme activity in various biological samples. Its high sensitivity and specificity make it a preferred choice in research involving reporter gene systems and enzyme activity studies.