(ag'ăr , ag'ăr-ag'ăr )

[Malay agaragar, seaweed (from which gelatin is made)]

1. A dried mucilaginous product obtained from certain species of algae, esp. of the genus Gelidium. Agar is unaffected by bacterial enzymes and therefore is widely used as a solidifying agent for bacterial culture media. It is used as a laxative because of its great increase in bulk on absorption of water. It is also used by vegetarians when recipes call for gelatin.
2. A culture medium containing agar.
3. A constituent of dental hydrocolloid impression materials.

de Man–Rogosa–Sharpe a.'A nutrient medium used in the laboratory to identify bacteria that release lactic acids. SYN: de Man-Rogosa-Sharpe medium.

xylose-lysine-desoxycholate a.'

Variant: xylose-lysine-deoxycholate agar