A Petri dish is a shallow, cylindrical, round glass or plastic dish with a suitable lid that is used to culture different types of cells, including bacteria and molds. It is a widely used laboratory equipment in the field of biology and chemistry. The dish often contains a nutritional medium on which the cells can grow. Petri dishes are usually cylindrical, with diameters ranging from 30 to 200 millimeters and a height to diameter ratio ranging from 1:10 to 1:4. They can be made of either glass or plastic, with glass dishes being reusable and made of heat-resistant borosilicate glass for proper sterilization at 120–160 °C, while plastic dishes are often for single use and must be discarded. Petri dishes are used to support the growth of microorganisms, and their transparency allows the growth stages of microorganisms to be observed clearly. Petri dishes are also used to evaporate solvents and dry out precipitates, store and display samples, and detect infections.