What Is a Petri Dish?
In the lab, cells and microbes are often cultured in what is called a “petri dish,” which is a shallow, cylinder-shaped glass container. Isolating bacteria and viruses allows for more careful investigation without interference from other factors. What this means is that microorganisms are grown on petri plates. An adequate container containing the culture media is a useful tool for this purpose. To properly cultivate organisms, a petri dish is the ideal container.
The German bacteriologist Julius Richard petri was the one who came up with the idea for the plate. In honor of this man, the petri dish bears his name. In the years since its creation, the petri dish has risen to prominence as a vital piece of scientific kit. Discover the many applications of petri dishes in the lab and beyond with the help of this science equip article!
What Is a Petri Dish Used For?
Petri dishes are widely used in the laboratories of the biological and chemical sciences. The dish is used in cell culture as a storage medium that prevents the cells from being infected. Cell culture is used to attain this goal. The transparent nature of the dish makes it easy to see the many stages of growth present in the microorganisms. The petri dish’s compact form factor makes it ideal for inspection under a microscope. Because of this, there is no need to transfer the contents of the petri dish to a separate, smaller plate. Schools and universities often use petri dishes for experiments and demonstrations, such as seeing seeds germinate.
Why Use a Petri Dish?
A petri dish is a plate with culture medium on it, used to grow microorganisms. It safeguards the purity of the environment, making it ideal for the proliferation of cells and microorganisms without the risk of contamination. These culture mediums are used to cultivate and identify microorganisms isolated from clinical, food, and environmental samples. Many different plating methods may be employed to determine the number of viable microorganisms and to isolate bacteria in a petri plate.
The clear glass or plastic used to make petri dishes gives them their see-through appearance. This allows for the study of microbes from both within and outside the plate.
The microbe is kept in a petri dish for a certain amount of time. Wrapping cultured media plates with parafilm tape or aluminum foil is a simple way to preserve them for later use.
Skin grafts and organoids are grown on petri dishes.
Researching seedlings in a petri dish allows scientists to see and record the first stages of development.
Researchers may observe insect activity in a controlled environment using a petri dish.
The solvent and precipitates are evaporated and dried on a petri dish in the chemical lab.
How to Use a Petri Dish
Before beginning an experiment that requires the use of a petri dish, it is critical to verify that the dish is spotless and devoid of any microparticles that might compromise the results. You are able to guarantee this by treating each dish that has been used with bleach and then sterilizing it so that it may be used again. In addition, you need to make sure that the petri dish has been sterilized before you use it.
In order to track the progression of bacterial colonies, you must first fill the plate with agar media (prepared with the help of red algae). The nutrition, blood, salt, indicators, antibiotics, and other substances that are necessary for the development of bacteria are found in agar media. The next step is to place the petri dishes in the refrigerator with the lids off and in an inverted position. Take the culture plates out of the refrigerator just before you need to use them, and then use them again when they have returned to room temperature.
The next step is to get a sample of bacteria or any other kind of microbe, and either gently pour it over the culture or use a cotton swab to apply it in a zigzag pattern over the culture. Be careful not to put too much pressure on them, since this might lead to the culture being destroyed.
When you have finished doing this, put the lid on the petri dish and cover it appropriately. Keep it at a temperature of around 37 degrees Celsius for a few days and then let it flourish. Your sample will be prepared for further investigation once a few days have passed.
At MEDILAB, we have a solution for your every experiment. We have a wide range of petri dishes available. They can either be of glass or plastic. Depending on your needs, you may choose a petri dish which would serve you the best. Our petri dishes are made with utmost precision and care so you may not have to go through even the slightest of trouble in performing your experiment.
