![Agar plates provide a nutrient rich environment for a variety of organisms.](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/360x267p/s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/contentlab.studiod/getty/cache.gettyimages.com/aa135855630e45db9b2b7d15312b9d1b.jpg)
Skim milk agar plates are used to provide a nutritious medium for growing micro-organisms. Once prepared, the agar can be plated with a population of micro-organisms to test for the micro-organism's ability to digest casein protein. Casein is a large insoluble protein found in skim milk. As it is digested by an organism's enzymes, casein is broken down into small amino acids and peptides. Clear patches on the agar pate indicate regions where casein has been broken down. Skim milk agar is a relatively uncomplicated and inexpensive medium to use for an experiment like this. You can buy skim milk agar from lab supply companies, or make it yourself.
- Agar
- dH20
- Skim milk powder
- Autoclave
- Empty petri dishes
- Paintbrush
- Scale
- Two 150 ml Beakers
- Watch glass
- Metal lab scoop
- Glass rod
![Photo Credit: Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images If powder spills onto the scale surface, genty brush it away with a soft paintbrush.](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/600x600p/s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/contentlab.studiod/getty/cache.gettyimages.com/7f56731804d8417399ee1f784b746a3b.jpg)
Place a clean,dry watch glass on the scale and zero the scale. Measure out 5 g of skim milk powder. Transfer the powder from the stock bottle to the watch glass on the scale with a clean, dry lab scoop.
![Photo Credit: Siri Stafford/Photodisc/Getty Images Crush chunks of powder against the walls of the beaker with the glass rod to break them up.](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/600x600p/s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/contentlab.studiod/getty/cache.gettyimages.com/a4907bc60dd64f0da11694a1bac52093.jpg)
Pour 50 ml of dH20 into one of the beakers. Add the skim milk powder and stir with the glass rod until it is completely dissolved.
![Photo Credit: Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images Using clean, dry lab equipment ensures that your measurements will be accurate.](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/600x600p/s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/contentlab.studiod/getty/cache.gettyimages.com/b215454b7a534d159b6d444a75d21a07.jpg)
Tare a clean, dry watch glass on the scale. Measure out 1g of agar powder onto the watch glass using a clean, dry lab scoop.
![Photo Credit: Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images Stir vigorously to ensure even suspension.](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/600x600p/s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/contentlab.studiod/getty/cache.gettyimages.com/da5d9a788f03446d93dbd5a65f5145a5.jpg)
Pour 50 ml of dH20 in the other beaker. Dissolve the measured agar powder into it.
![Photo Credit: Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images Autoclaving sterilizes the agar to prevent contamination with other micro-organisms.](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/600x600p/s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/contentlab.studiod/getty/cache.gettyimages.com/1a09e28fea5044478211698d611b1aeb.jpg)
Quickly pour the skim milk mixture into the agar mixture. Stir the mixture then autoclave at 121 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes.
![Photo Credit: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images Fill the dishes half-full for the best results.](https://img-aws.ehowcdn.com/600x600p/s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/contentlab.studiod/getty/cache.gettyimages.com/72aa0d23a9b840e2b931fb2af81b7619.jpg)
Pour the skim milk agar into the clean, dry petri dishes. Do not fill the dishes all the way to the top. Let the agar cool and solidify before you use it for your experiment.
Things You'll Need
References
About the Author
Annie Duchesne started writing in 2006. She has written for publications such as: "The Ottawa Citizen," "The Link," "The Concordian" and "The Canadian Stroke Network." She is currently working towards a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and Bachelor of Science in biology from Concordia University in Montreal.
Photo Credits
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