What are the differences between agar and agarose, and how do they impact their respective uses in laboratory applications?

Agar is a polysaccharide derived from seaweed, while agarose is a purified form of agar. Agar is used for bacterial and fungal cultures, while agarose is used for electrophoresis to separate DNA and proteins based on size. The differences in composition and purity impact their effectiveness in specific laboratory applications.