Homogenization is the process of breaking open the cells. Cells are broken apart by chemicals, enzymes, or sound waves. Some scientists even force the cells through small spaces at high pressure to break them apart.

Centrifugation is the isolation of the cell organelles. Therefore at the end of this process, a researcher has isolated the mitochondria, the nucleus, the chloroplast and etc.

The diagram below is an example of cell fractionation. The first two test tubes demonstrate the result of homogenization and the last four portray the process of differential centrifugation.

Cell fractionation also allows researchers to prepare specific cell components in bulk for research in the functions and structures of cell organelles. This method has already resulted in the knowledge several cell organelles' functions.

For example, by centrifugation a specific cell fraction was determined to have enzymes that function in cellular respiration. This unknown cell fraction was rich in mitochondrias. Therefore there researchers obtained evidence that helped determine mitochondrias were the site of cellular respiration.

                                                         Whoa!!!!

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Last updated: July 21, 2005

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