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The Atlantic

The Atlantic

A Simple Lab Ingredient Derailed Science Experiments

The Atlantic
Summary
Nutrition label

86% Informative

Agar is a staple of microbiology labs for a century .

Mixed with water, the seaweed-derived white powder forms a sturdy, transparent gel perfect for growing microbes.

Scientists have started to wonder if the potential toxicity originated in seaweed used to make the agar.

The company that supplied the seemingly toxic batch to her lab says it’s been able to successfully grow fission yeast on the same batch.

Gelidium is a slowly growing wild seaweed that yields a higher-quality agar whose lower gelling temperature is more suitable for lab work.

In 2015 , a Gelidium shortage caused the wholesale price to nearly triple.

Gelidium has so far resisted attempts at mass cultivation.