Centrifugation
Centrifugation is a laboratory technique that uses centrifugal force to separate components of a mixture based on their density, size, or shape. It involves spinning samples at high speeds in a centrifuge, causing denser particles to migrate outward and form a pellet, while lighter components remain in the supernatant. This process is widely used in biology, chemistry, and medicine for tasks like cell isolation, protein purification, and blood component separation.
Developers should learn about centrifugation when working in bioinformatics, biotechnology, or medical software development, as it's essential for processing biological samples in lab workflows. It's particularly useful for applications involving data from centrifuged samples, such as genomic sequencing, drug discovery, or diagnostic tool development, where understanding the physical separation process informs data interpretation and algorithm design.