AGAR
(AY-gahr)
A
gelatinous material derived from algae.
Common
clues: Ice cream thickener; Lab gel; Petri dish gel; Seaweed
extract; Culture medium; Emulsifying agent; Food thickener
Crossword
puzzle frequency:
7 times a year
Frequency
in English language:
42862 / 86800
Video:
Heart Cells
Beat in Petri Dish
Agar
is a galactose polymer (or Agarose) obtained from the cell walls
of some species of red algae or seaweeds (Sphaerococcus
euchema)
and species of Gelidium, chiefly from eastern Asia and
California. Also known as Kanten, Agar-Agar, or Agal-Agal (Ceylon
Agar).
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.
Uses in
microbiology
Nutrient
agar is used throughout the world as a medium for the growth of
bacteria and fungi, but not viruses.
An
agar plate with microorganisms isolated from a deep-water
sponge.
The
basic agar formula can be used to grow almost all microbes;
however, other more specific nutrient agars are available. For
example, blood agar, which is generally combined with horse
blood, can be used to detect the presence of haemophoragic
micro-organisms such as E.coli O:157 H:7. The bacteria digest the
blood, turning the plate clear.
This
article is licensed under the GNU
Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the Wikipedia
article "Agar".
AGAR
(409)
53 Tu+ >1 03 Culture medium
27
We- >1 09 Ice cream thickener
25
We- >1 04 Seaweed product
24
Tu+ >1 01 Lab gel
21
We+ >1 08 Food thickener ATOM SAGO
15
We >1 09 Thickening agent
14
Mo >1 95 Culture base
9
We >1 07 Petri dish gel
9
We+ >1 06 Petri dish gelatin
8
Tu >1 08 Lab medium AUAR
8
We >1 99 Seaweed extract
7
We+ >1 98 Petri dish stuff
7
We >1 03 Seaweed substance
6
Th+ LAT 05 Pastry thickener
6
Tu >1 05 Petri dish filler
5
We >1 09 Gelatin substitute
5
Th >1 06 Petri dish contents
5
Th+ >1 02 Seaweed derivative
00
Bacterial culture base
4
Th+ NYT 01 Chinese gelatin
4
Tu >1 91 Gelling agent
4
We >1 09 Lab culture
4
Fr- >1 06 Petri dish layer
4
Tu- >1 05 Petri dish medium
3
Th- NYT 09 Biology lab supply
2
Tu- >1 08 Queen of Mount Olympus
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