The S in '70S' and '80S' refers to
ASubunit number
BSvedberg unit, a sedimentation coefficient
CSize in nanometres
DSurface area in square micrometres
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Svedberg unit, a sedimentation coefficient
S is the Svedberg unit, a sedimentation coefficient measuring how fast a particle sediments in ultracentrifugation. It is not directly additive (30S + 50S = 70S, not 80S, because shape affects sedimentation).
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