What does the term 'pellet' refer to after centrifugation?

The term 'pellet' after centrifugation specifically refers to the solid mass that settles at the bottom of the tube. During centrifugation, the spinning action generates a force that causes denser components of a liquid mixture to move toward the bottom of the container, forming this solid mass. This pellet can consist of cells, cell debris, or other particulates, depending on the nature of the sample being processed.

Understanding the significance of the pellet is crucial in laboratory settings, as it allows scientists to isolate and analyze specific components from a mixture. The liquid remaining above the pellet, known as the supernatant, contains lighter components that are not precipitated. This distinction is important for experiments that require separation of different cellular or molecular entities, making the identification of the pellet vital in various bioscience applications.