in vitro
Outside the body
In vitro describes biological processes conducted outside a living organism, typically in a laboratory vessel—a test tube, petri dish, or similar container.
The Latin means "in glass." In vitro fertilization (IVF) joins egg and sperm in a lab before implanting the embryo.
Contrasts with in vivo, meaning within a living body.
Lidded laboratory culture container
- cell cultureLaboratory technique for growing tissue
- incubatorControlled warming enclosure
- sterile techniqueInfection-preventing clinical protocol
- pipetteGraduated liquid transfer tube
microscope · cell line · tissue culture · assay · growth medium · contamination · passage · flask
Laboratory-aided conception method
- embryoOrganism before birth
- fertilizationGamete fusion creating zygote
- embryo transferPlacing fertilized egg inside
- blastocystEarly developmental stage before implantation
zygote · oocyte · gamete · insemination · infertility treatment · implantation · surrogacy · donor eggs
Deliberate DNA modification
- CRISPRGene-editing molecular machinery
- gene therapyMedical DNA modification treatment
- stem cellsUndifferentiated cells with regenerative potential
- bioreactorVessel for growing organisms
transfection · monoclonal antibodies · gene editing · organoids · plasmid · biopharmaceuticals · synthetic biology
Examining to evaluate
- bioassayTest using living tissue
- screeningEvaluative selection process
- cytotoxicityHarmfulness to living cells
- toxicologyScience of poisons
drug testing · pharmacokinetics · antibody testing · diagnostic kit · quality control
Assembling amino acid chains
- transcriptionWritten version of speech
- translationConverting between languages
- ribosomesCellular translation machinery
- amino acidsOrganic compounds forming proteins
nucleotides · enzymes · reagents · DNA replication · catalyst · substrate
petri dish
Lidded laboratory culture container
- cell cultureLaboratory technique for growing tissue
- incubatorControlled warming enclosure
- sterile techniqueInfection-preventing clinical protocol
pipette · microscope · cell line · tissue culture · assay · growth medium · contamination · passage · flask · laminar flow hood
IVF
Laboratory-aided conception method
- embryoOrganism before birth
- fertilizationGamete fusion creating zygote
- embryo transferPlacing fertilized egg inside
blastocyst · zygote · oocyte · gamete · insemination · infertility treatment · implantation · surrogacy · donor eggs · fertility drugs
genetic engineering
Deliberate DNA modification
- CRISPRGene-editing molecular machinery
- gene therapyMedical DNA modification treatment
- stem cellsUndifferentiated cells with regenerative potential
bioreactor · transfection · monoclonal antibodies · gene editing · organoids · plasmid · biopharmaceuticals · synthetic biology
testing
Examining to evaluate
- bioassayTest using living tissue
- screeningEvaluative selection process
- cytotoxicityHarmfulness to living cells
toxicology · drug testing · pharmacokinetics · antibody testing · diagnostic kit · quality control
protein synthesis
Assembling amino acid chains
- transcriptionWritten version of speech
- translationConverting between languages
- ribosomesCellular translation machinery
amino acids · nucleotides · enzymes · reagents · DNA replication · catalyst · substrate
- Latin Termsa priori, ab initio, ad hoc, ad lib, bona fide
- Latin Wordsad, ad nauseam, et, caveat emptor, affidavit
- Lab Conditionssterile environment, pH level, control group, extreme conditions, in vivo
- Latin phrasesE pluribus unum, carpe diem, caveat emptor, veni vidi vici, ad astra
- cell culturecell culture, cell lines, tissue culture, culture plate, culture dish
- drug researchdrug discovery, drug testing, drug screening, drug approval, clinical trials
in vitroin vivo
Within living tissue
in situ · whole organism · in utero · endogenous · physiological
in vitronatural
Not artificially produced
in vivo · biological · living · organic
vitriol, vitriolic, vitreous, viticulture, vitrify, vitrification, vitrectomy, vitrine, in situ