Used as a pH indicator in laboratory applications, particularly in electrophoresis gels for monitoring the progress of separation. It changes color from yellow to blue as pH increases, making it useful for visual tracking of sample migration. Commonly added to loading buffers in agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to monitor buffer front movement. Also serves as a tracking dye due to its distinct color and migration rate in electric fields. Suitable for use in microbiological media as an indicator for pH changes during bacterial growth.