Agar

Agar is a galactose polymer (or agarose) obtained from the cell walls of some species of red algae or seaweed (Sphaerococcus euchema) and species of Gelidium, chiefly from eastern Asia and California. It is also known as Kanten, Agar-Agar, or Agal-Agal (Ceylon Agar).

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Chemically, agar is a polymer made up of subunits of the sugar galactose; it is a component of the algae's cell walls. Dissolved in hot water and cooled, agar becomes gelatinous; its chief use is as a culture medium for microbiological work. Other uses are as a laxative, a vegetarian gelatin substitute — a thickener for soups, in jellies, ice cream and Japanese desserts such as anmitsu, as a clarifying agent in brewing, and for sizing fabrics.

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Polymer: A polymer is a generic term used to describe a substantially long molecule. This long molecule consists of structural units and repeating units strung together through chemical bonds. The process of converting these units to a polymer is called polymerization. These units consist of monomers, which ...

Agarose: Agarose is a polysaccharide polymer material, generally extracted from seaweed. The molecules are extremely water-soluble due to their large number of hydroxy groups, and the solutions tend to be low-melting point aqueous gels. Sheets of agarose gels are readily prepared by pouring the warm, liquid ...

Cell wall: A cell wall is a more or less solid layer surrounding a cell. They are found in bacteria, archea, fungi, plants, and algae. Animals and most other protists have cell membranes without surrounding cell walls. When a cell wall is removed using cell wall degrading enzymes, what is left of the cell and ...

Agar related Images and Photos (experimental)

Escherichia Coli Bacteria Colonies on Macconkey Agar Culture Dish. Lactose Fermenters are Red