Question

In cell fractionation, the first step is to place the cells into a centrifuge. Please select the best answer from the choices provided:

a) True
b) False

Answer 1

The first step in cell fractionation is not centrifugation but the homogenization or disruption of the cell membrane. Only after cells are lysed is the centrifuge used to separate components based on mass.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that the first step in cell fractionation is to place the cells into a centrifuge is false. Cell fractionation is a multi-step process that begins with the disruption of the cell membrane to release cellular contents. This can be achieved through physical or chemical methods such as grinding in a mortar and pestle, exposure to ultrasound, or enzymatic digestion. Once the cells are lysed, centrifugation is used to separate the subcellular components based on their differences in mass, with denser particles forming pellets faster during centrifugation. Therefore, before centrifugation, cells need to be homogenized to ensure that the contents are released for subsequent separation.