in vitro

views updated Jun 11 2018

in vi·tro / in ˈvēˌtrō/ • adj. & adv. Biol. (of processes or reactions) taking place in a test tube, culture dish, or elsewhere outside a living organism: [as adj.] in vitro fertilization. The opposite of in vivo.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

in vitro

views updated May 17 2018

in vitro Describing biological processes that are made to occur outside the living body, in laboratory apparatus (literally ‘in glass’, i.e. in a test tube). In in vitro fertilization, mature egg cells are removed from the ovary of a woman unable to conceive normally and fertilized externally; the resultant blastocyst is implanted into her uterus. Compare in vivo.

A Dictionary of Biology

in vitro

views updated May 29 2018

in vitro Literally ‘in glass’, but applied more generally to studies on living material that are performed outside the living organism from which the material is derived. Examples include the use of a perfused organ, tissue cultures, cell homogenates, and subcellular fractions.

A Dictionary of Zoology MICHAEL ALLABY

in vitro

views updated Jun 08 2018

in vitro Literally ‘in glass’; used to indicate an observation made experimentally in the test‐tube, as distinct from the natural living conditions, in vivo.

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition DAVID A. BENDER

in vitro

views updated May 29 2018

in vitro Literally, ‘in glass’, but applied more generally to studies on living material which are performed outside the living organism from which the material is derived. Examples include the use of tissue cultures, cell homogenates, and subcellular fractions.

A Dictionary of Ecology MICHAEL ALLABY

in vitro

views updated May 23 2018

in vitro Literally, ‘in glass’, but applied more generally to studies on living material that are performed outside the living organism from which the material is derived. Examples include the use of tissue cultures, cell homogenates, and subcellular fractions.

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences MICHAEL ALLABY