The artists use bacteria as their paint and fungus as their canvas to educate people about the important relationship we have with microbes. The American Society for Microbiology's Agar Art ...

Participants at the Agar Art contest have many colors to choose from for their designs. The bacteria would then produce pigments after about 2 days. (Lillian Ercanbrack) Participants were ...

An inoculating loop can be used to transfer bacteria. It is sterilised by heating it to red hot in a Bunsen flame, before and after use. To inoculate the agar, lift the lid of the Petri dish and tilt.

This agar is used to identify organisms that are capable of producing the enzyme lipase. This enzyme is secreted and hydrolyzes triglycerides to glycerol and three long chain fatty acids. These ...

With the help of some students, science presenter Jon Chase investigates the growth of bacteria on agar plates. The students swab some of their personal possessions, including earrings and mobile ...

This is a differential medium. It tests the ability of an organism to do several things: reduce sulfur, produce indole and swim through the agar (be motile). SIM is commonly used to differentiate ...

The nifty gelatin and egg white substitute can be found in either powdered or flake form -- but be sure to look for food-grade agar and not the type used for culturing bacteria in laboratories. Packed ...