CultureAugust 9, 2026

agar

AY-gar

Definition

A gelatinous substance derived from algae, used as a culture medium in petri dishes to provide nutrients for growing yeast or bacteria.

Etymology

The word comes from the Malay word 'agar-agar', which refers to a specific type of seaweed used to make jelly.

In the news

In the context of the article, agar serves as the solid base required to sustain and monitor yeast growth in laboratory experiments involving light control. It is essential for creating the environment where the yeast cells can be properly observed.

Optogenetics: Controlling yeast with light

Read the full article ↗

The Straits Times

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