What is agar solution?

What is agar solution?

According to the US Pharmacopeia, agar can be defined as a hydrophilic colloid extracted from certain seaweeds of the Rhodophyceae class. It is insoluble in cold water but soluble in boiling water. A 1.5% solution is clear and when it is cooled to 34-43°C it forms a firm gel which does not melt again below 85°C.

Can you make agar at home?

You can make your own substitute agar plates at home out of common kitchen ingredients. Wash your hands, your counter and all dishes you will be using thoroughly. Although you will not be able to get totally sterile conditions, you should try to be as careful as possible to avoid introducing germs to your petri dishes.

How much are agar plates?

Catalog No. Plate Type Price/Plate
4001-100 LB Agar Plates, 100x15mm $1.50
4001-150 LB Agar Plates, 150x15mm $2.50
4002-100 LB Agar w/ Ampcillin 100ug/ml Plates*, 100x15mm $1.50
4002-150 LB Agar w/ Ampcillin 100ug/ml Plates*, 150x15mm $2.50

What is the difference between an agar plate and a petri dish?

An agar plate is a Petri dish that contains a growth medium solidified with agar, used to culture microorganisms. Sometimes selective compounds are added to influence growth, such as antibiotics.

Is it possible to grow viruses on agar plates?

Viruses cannot be grown in standard microbiological broths or on agar plates, instead they have be to cultured inside suitable host cells.

Where can viruses be grown?

Viruses can be grown in vivo (within a whole living organism, plant, or animal) or in vitro (outside a living organism in cells in an artificial environment, such as a test tube, cell culture flask, or agar plate).

Do viruses evolve?

Viruses undergo evolution and natural selection, just like cell-based life, and most of them evolve rapidly. When two viruses infect a cell at the same time, they may swap genetic material to make new, “mixed” viruses with unique properties.