How did the Petri dish acquire its name?

RickF

Named after Petri, a German bacteriologist. Jan 13 05, 9:07 AM

mibmob

The petri dish, which is a small glass or plastic container used for growing bacteria and other microorganisms, was named after German bacteriologist Julius R. Petri (1852-1921). Jan 13 05, 9:08 AM

Buck540

The story of the Petri dish is an interesting exception--while at the same time underscoring the general pattern of invisible technicians. Julius Richard Petri (1852-1921) worked for the master of "germ theory" in Germany in the late 1800s, Robert Koch (1843-1910; pronounced as a gutteral "coke"). Initially, bacteria were cultured in liquid broth--a practice captured in our famous images of experiments on spontaneous generation. But Koch saw the advantage of growing bacteria on a solid medium instead. By spreading out mixtures of microorganisms on a solid surface, he could separate individual types in isolated colonies. With pure colonies, he could investigate the effects of each bacterium. The method allowed Koch to identify the specific organisms that cause tuberculosis, cholera, diptheria, among many other diseases--and then to develop vaccines. At first, however, Koch used a "puddle" of gelatin on a flat piece of glass. Later, the gelatin was spread on the side of a flat bottle, accessed through a narrow opening at the end. Petri, however, realized that one could pour the gelatin in a shallow dish, and put a cover on it, making it easier to get at the bacterial cultures. Since then, of course, the Petri dish has become a staple in laboratory work--and not just in studying microbes. Koch's work is certainly remembered (though oddly his name does not carry beyond the world of microbiologists, say in the way that Pasteur's has). At the same time, the name of Koch's assistant has become a household word, though few know exactly who he was. Jan 13 05, 9:09 AM

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