In vitro

Living in test tubes, outside the organism or in an artificial environment, typically in glass vessels in which cultured cells, tissues, organs or whole plants may reside.

in vitro

Plants; Plant pathology

In glass, on artificial media, or in an artificial environment; outside the host.

in vitro

Health care; Cancer treatment

In the laboratory (outside the body). The opposite of in vivo (in the body).

potency

Medical; Stem cell research

The range of commitment options available to a cell.

pluripotent stem cells

Medical; Stem cell research

Stem cells that can develop into all the different cell types in the body except the placenta. They give rise to mulitpotent and unipotent stem cells as the embryo develops.

pluripotent

Medical; Stem cell research

Able to form all the body's cell lineages, including germ cells, and some or even all extraembryonic cell types. Example: embryonic stem cells.

plasticity

Medical; Stem cell research

Unproven notion that tissue stem cells may be able to generate the cell types of another tissue under certain conditions.

placenta

Medical; Stem cell research

The oval spongy structure in the uterus from which the fetus derives its nourishment and oxygen. The placenta develops from the outer cell layer of the blastocyst, called the ...