In Vitro Testing
Why In Vitro?
In human safety studies, in vitro methods (using cells and tissues outside the body in an artificial environment) are routinely used to determine the safety or effectiveness of a drug or ingredient. In the environment, we are trying to use similar in vitro methods to study the toxicity of chemicals to fish.
The hope is that these approaches will one day allow us to greatly reduce or eliminate the need for fish in our work. The problem is that we do not know enough about how well in vitro tests predict the response of whole fish to chemicals.
The hope is that these approaches will one day allow us to greatly reduce or eliminate the need for fish in our work. The problem is that we do not know enough about how well in vitro tests predict the response of whole fish to chemicals.
Method
In vitro testing appears simple. Cells from the body of a living organism are grown with a
chemical soup that provides the nutrients needed for the cells to survive outside the body. These cells are exposed to ingredients, and each ingredient is analysed to understand metabolism 
. The cells are analysed to understand the concentration of the ingredient that makes the cells unhealthy.
In fact, this is highly challenging, primarily due to the fact that it is very difficult to keep cells healthy outside of the body. As our knowledge of biology grows, we will apply this information to in vitro biology and in vitro testing.
. The cells are analysed to understand the concentration of the ingredient that makes the cells unhealthy.In fact, this is highly challenging, primarily due to the fact that it is very difficult to keep cells healthy outside of the body. As our knowledge of biology grows, we will apply this information to in vitro biology and in vitro testing.
