In vitro studies are performed with
microorganisms,
cells or
biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called "
test tube experiments", these studies in
biology and its sub-disciplines have traditionally been done in test-tubes, flasks,
petri dishes etc and since the onset of
molecular biology involve techniques such as the so-called
omics. Studies that are conducted using components of an
organism that have been isolated from their usual biological surroundings permit a more detailed or more convenient analysis than can be done with whole organisms. In contrast,
in vivo studies are those conducted in animals including humans, and whole plants.