A standard curve generated from a colorimetric protein assay can be used to accurately determine protein concentrations, but only if the unknown samples are diluted to fall within the range of known standards. True or False?

True. A standard curve shows how the color intensity relates to known protein amounts, so you can read off the concentration of an unknown sample only if its color falls inside that curve’s range. If the unknown’s color is outside the curve, you can’t accurately match it to a concentration. Therefore, you must dilute the sample so its absorbance falls within the standard curve’s limits. Once it’s inside the range, the curve gives a reliable protein concentration.