In vitro toxicology
In vitro toxicology means testing how substances (like chemicals) could harm our bodies, but instead of testing on animals or people directly, we do it using tiny cells in a small dish.
It's like making a mini version of a human body inside a lab, with tiny parts that we can study and observe closely. Scientists take cells (like skin cells or liver cells) and put them in a dish with some nutrients (like food for the cells) and then add the substance they want to test - this could be a medicine, a cosmetic product, or even a type of food additive.
By watching how the cells respond to the substance, scientists can figure out if it is safe or if it could cause harm. They can look at things like if the cells grow or die, how they behave, or any chemical changes that happen inside of them.
This helps us make sure that things we use or consume are safe for humans and animals without having to actually test them on living things first.
It's like making a mini version of a human body inside a lab, with tiny parts that we can study and observe closely. Scientists take cells (like skin cells or liver cells) and put them in a dish with some nutrients (like food for the cells) and then add the substance they want to test - this could be a medicine, a cosmetic product, or even a type of food additive.
By watching how the cells respond to the substance, scientists can figure out if it is safe or if it could cause harm. They can look at things like if the cells grow or die, how they behave, or any chemical changes that happen inside of them.
This helps us make sure that things we use or consume are safe for humans and animals without having to actually test them on living things first.