What is a petri dish?

• A shallow, transparent dish with a lid, commonly made of clear plastic.
• Invented by Julius Richard Petri, a German bacteriologist.
• Also known as a Petri plate or cell-culture dish.

What do scientists do with them?

• The most common use is to cultivate bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms.
• Scientists add a nutrient-rich gel (like agar) to the dish, creating a suitable environment for growth.
• Samples containing the microorganisms are then introduced, and the dish is sealed and incubated under controlled conditions (temperature, humidity).
• Observing the growth patterns and characteristics of the microorganisms helps scientists identify, study, and understand them.

Testing for antibiotic resistance:

• Bacteria growing on an agar plate containing an antibiotic can reveal their resistance to that antibiotic.
• If the bacteria survive and grow, it indicates resistance.
• This information is crucial for developing effective treatments and managing infections.

Studying cell behavior:

• Petri dishes can also be used to culture animal or plant cells.
• Scientists can observe cell growth, division, and response to various stimuli (drugs, chemicals, etc.).
• This helps in understanding cell biology, disease processes, and potential drug development.

Studying seed germination:

• In some cases, petri dishes are used to study seed germination under controlled conditions.
• This allows scientists to observe the early stages of plant growth and development.

Other applications:

• Petri dishes can also be used for environmental testing, detecting foodborne pathogens, and conducting genetic experiments.

Important to note:

• Working with petri dishes requires sterile techniques to prevent contamination.
• The specific procedures and applications vary depending on the research goals.

Product Code: OC-PETRI-L