What is the Difference Between Agar and Agarose?

Agar and agarose are both products derived from rhodophyceae algae, but they have different characteristics and applications. Here are the main differences between agar and agarose:

Composition: Agar is a heterogeneous mixture of two classes of polysaccharides: agaropectin and agarose. Agarose is a linear polymer made of alternating galactose connections.
Extraction: Agar is extracted directly from the cell wall of different species of red algae, such as Gelidium and Gracilaria. Agarose, on the other hand, is obtained later from the agar through a complex and costly purification process.
Price: Agar is generally cheaper than agarose.
Production Process: The production process of agar is less time-consuming and complex compared to that of agarose.
Uses: Agar is widely used in the food industry, microbiology, and molecular biology. It is also used in the chemical industry, medical research, and as a culture medium and ointment. Agarose, however, is primarily used in molecular biology for creating structures that separate and/or fix different biological materials using electrophoretic and chromatographic techniques. It is also used as a thickening or gelling agent in the food industry.

In summary, agar and agarose are both derived from algae, but they have different compositions, extraction processes, prices, and applications. Agar is a mixture of agaropectin and agarose and is used in various fields, while agarose is a purified form of agar extracted from agar and primarily used in molecular biology and the food industry.