Petri Dish - GCSE Biology Definition

Reviewed by: Lára Marie McIvor

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A Petri dish is a shallow, round, clear container with a lid, used in laboratories to grow and study microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. It is usually made of plastic or glass and may be filled with agar, a jelly-like substance that provides nutrients and a surface for microorganisms to grow on. Scientists use Petri dishes to observe how microorganisms develop, respond to different conditions, or react to treatments like antibiotics. In GCSE Biology, Petri dishes are used in experiments to investigate microbial growth.

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Lára Marie McIvor

Reviewer: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Biology, Psychology & Sociology Subject Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.

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