In Vivo vs. In Vitro Trials (and Why Combining Both Is Best)

“In vivo” is Latin for “in the living”. In vivo experiences occur within a living organism – laboratory animals often or, at subsequent stages, human clinical trials.

These studies reveal how biological molecules, drugs or alternative treatment strategies occur in the complex environment of a whole organism.

“In vitro”, “signifying” in glass “, refers to experiences made outside a living organism. These in vitro studies are carried out in controlled environments such as a test tube, a petri box or a laboratory dish using isolated cells or tissues.

In vitro models allow scientists to observe the effects at the cellular level with high precision.