An agar plate is a laboratory tool used to culture microorganisms. It consists of a flat, sterile dish filled with a gelatinous substance called agar, which is derived from seaweed. This medium provides nutrients for bacteria, fungi, and other microbes to grow, allowing scientists to study their characteristics and behaviors. Agar plates are commonly used in microbiology for various applications, including isolating specific strains of bacteria and testing antibiotic effectiveness. The surface of the agar can be inoculated with samples, and after incubation, colonies of microorganisms can be observed and analyzed for research or clinical purposes.