Question

The term used to refer something performed on computer or computer simulation is-

• A. Dry lab
• B. Wet lab
• C. In silico
• D. In vitro

Hint:

Remember:
Glass = In vitro.
Living = In vivo.
Silicon (Computer) = In silico.
Computational tools are essential for modern "Omics" research in plant biotechnology.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
This question asks for the specific scientific term used to describe experiments or simulations conducted using computers and computational models.
Detailed Explanation:

• In silico (The Correct Term):
This is a modern biological term derived from the Latin phrase for "in silicon," referring to the silicon chips used in computer processors.
It describes computational biology, bioinformatics, and computer modeling.
Examples include molecular docking, genomic sequence alignment, and metabolic flux analysis performed using software.

• Comparison with other terms:
In vitro: Latin for "in glass." This refers to experiments performed in a controlled environment outside a living organism, such as in test tubes, petri dishes, or flasks (e.g., plant tissue culture).
In vivo: Latin for "within the living." This refers to experiments performed inside a living organism (e.g., studying a gene's effect in a whole transgenic plant growing in a greenhouse).
Wet lab: A laboratory where chemicals, drugs, or other biological matter are handled in liquid solutions.
Dry lab: A lab where computational or mathematical analyses are performed, though "In silico" is the more formal scientific term for the simulation itself.

• Significance in Biotechnology:
In silico analysis allows researchers to screen millions of compounds or predict protein structures before moving to expensive and time-consuming "wet lab" experiments.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Computer-based simulations are referred to as "in silico" experiments.