agar, agar-agar

(ag′ăr )

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(ag′ăr-ag′ăr )

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[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.

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