In silico
In silico
In silico (pronounced /ɪn ˈsɪlɪkoʊ/) is a term used in computational biology to describe experiments performed on computer or via computer simulation. The phrase is a play on Latin phrases used in biology: in vivo (in the living), in vitro (in the glass), and in situ (in position), and is a pun referencing silicon, the fundamental element in a computer chip.
Etymology
The term "in silico" was first used in public in 1989 by a French team of researchers in a paper published in the Journal of Molecular Biology. The term is derived from the Latin "silico", referring to silicon, and the prefix "in", meaning "in" or "within". The term is a play on the biological terms "in vivo" and "in vitro", and was created to describe experiments done in computer or via computer simulation.
Related Terms
- Computational Biology: The study of biological systems using computational methods. In silico methods are often used in this field.
- Bioinformatics: An interdisciplinary field that develops methods and software tools for understanding biological data, particularly when the data sets are large and complex. In silico methods are a key part of bioinformatics.
- In Vivo: Refers to experiments performed in the living organism. This is in contrast to in silico experiments, which are performed on a computer.
- In Vitro: Refers to experiments performed in a test tube or other artificial environment outside a living organism. This is in contrast to in silico experiments, which are performed on a computer.
- In Situ: Refers to experiments performed in the original location. This is in contrast to in silico experiments, which are performed on a computer.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on In silico
- Wikipedia's article - In silico
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