What is the function of the centrifuge in the bacterial concentration exercise?

The function of the centrifuge in the bacterial concentration exercise is to pellet the bacteria and separate it from the growth media. In this process, the centrifuge spins samples at high speeds, creating a strong centrifugal force that causes denser materials, like bacterial cells, to move to the bottom of the tube, forming a pellet. This allows for the effective separation of the bacteria from the liquid growth media, which contains nutrients and other components that are not needed for further analysis of the bacterial cells.

This function is critical in many molecular biology and biochemistry procedures, including the isolation of proteins like Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), as it enables researchers to concentrate the cells for further processing, such as lysis and extraction of the desired proteins. In this particular context of GFP purification, efficient pelleting ensures that the maximum amount of bacterial cells can be processed, which is essential for obtaining a high yield of GFP.