Question

Aliquots of a 0.5-mg/ml standard of BSA are used to construct a standard curve. What is the purpose of constructing a standard curve?

1) To determine the concentration of an unknown sample
2) To calibrate the instrument used for measurement
3) To compare the results with a known standard
4) To validate the accuracy of the experimental method

Answer 1

A standard curve is created to determine the concentration of an unknown sample, calibrate instruments, and validate experimental methods. It graphs the relationship between known concentrations and assay response, allowing determination of unknown concentrations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of constructing a standard curve in a biological assay is multi-faceted. A standard curve is typically used to determine the concentration of an unknown sample by comparing its assay response to that of known standards. This curve also serves to calibrate the instrument used for measurement and validate the accuracy of the experimental method. By establishing how the assay responds to known concentrations of a substance, such as BSA (bovine serum albumin) in this case, you can obtain a graphical representation of the relationship between concentration and absorbance. When you measure the absorbance of an unknown sample, you can then refer to the standard curve to extrapolate the concentration of that sample.