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Everything about In vitro

Latin term meaning outside a natural biological environment

In vitro studies are performed with cells or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called "test-tube experiments", these studies in biology and its subdisciplines are traditionally done in labware such as test tubes, flasks, Petri dishes, and microtiter plates. Studies conducted using components of an organism that have been isolated from their usual biological surroundings permit a more detailed or more convenient analysis than can be done with whole organisms; however, results obtained from in vitro experiments may not fully or accurately predict the effects on a whole organism. In contrast to in vitro experiments, in vivo studies are those conducted in living organisms, including humans, known as clinical trials, and whole plants. Wikipedia →

🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path

  1. Read the overview: In vitroA 5-minute orientation
  2. Skim a recent paper: Development and validation of a risk-of-bias tool for assessing in vitro studies conducted in dentistry: The QUINInfluential work since 2022
  3. Pick up a classic book: I'll Be Seeing YouThe most-reprinted book on the subject
  4. Read the landmark paper: In vitro selection of RNA molecules that bind specific ligandsCited 9,065 times
  5. Go sideways: In vitro to in vivo extrapolationA closely related topic
  6. Go sideways: In vitro toxicologyA closely related topic

📖 Definitions

Adjective In an artificial environment outside the living organism.

Adverb In an artificial environment outside the living organism.

🗂️ The subject at a glance

  1. Definition
  2. Examples
  3. Advantages
  4. Disadvantages
  5. In vitro test batteries
  6. In vitro to in vivo extrapolation

🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)

🆕 Influential since 2022

📚 Books worth reading

Ranked by number of editions on Open Library, a rough measure of how lasting a book is.

🔗 Related topics