What Does in Vivo Mean in Medical Terms
In medical terms, “in vivo” means “within the living”. It refers to studies, experiments, or procedures that are conducted on or within a living organism, such as a human, animal, or plant. This is in contrast to “in vitro”, which means “in glass” and refers to studies done outside of a living organism, often in test tubes or petri dishes.
Here’s a table summarizing the key differences between in vivo and in vitro studies:
| Feature | In vivo | In vitro |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Within a living organism | Outside of a living organism (usually in a lab) |
| Examples | Clinical trials, animal studies, organ transplants | Cell cultures, enzyme assays, DNA sequencing |
| Advantages | More realistic results, can account for complex interactions within the body | Faster, cheaper, easier to control variables |
| Disadvantages | Ethical considerations, more complex and expensive, unpredictable results | Less realistic, may not accurately reflect what happens in a living organism |
Here are some specific examples of how “in vivo” is used in medical terms:
- In vivo imaging: This refers to techniques like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs that are used to visualize the inside of a living organism.
- In vivo drug testing: This involves testing new drugs on animals or humans to see how they affect the body.
- In vivo gene therapy: This is a type of gene therapy that involves introducing new genes into living cells within an organism.
Overall, “in vivo” is a crucial concept in medical research, as it allows scientists to study how things work in the complex and interconnected environment of a living organism. This information is essential for developing new treatments and understanding diseases.
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