MgSO4. Microwaveable? Why add after autoclaving?

Model Organism: Worms Methods & Reagents
1

Hi I’m wondering first if I can microwave a freezing mix (glycerol/agar) containing MgSO4.

Why is this added after autoclaving media? Does it react with something else at high temp? I know E. coli growth is limited without it, but do worms need this to survive?

2

hi,

what springs immediately to mind is;

  1. why would you want to do that?

and

  1. that you should read this series of posts which covers the reason for adding MgSO4 after the autoclaved agar has cooled to ~55°C,

Steve

3

  1. I have a stock of soft-agar freezing mix I wish to aliquot.

  2. I think I found the post you were referring to (http://forums.wormbase.org/index.php?topic=1612.msg3647#msg3647).
    So I can’t heat it, nor melt it. I’ll try to pipette it out, or make new.

Thank you very much, I am happy to know why we add all those things post-autoclave!

4

er…yep, sorry that’s the link that I didn’t include…