in silicoadjective.
In a virtual environment, such as a computer simulation.
Example Citation:
"Now, with the human genetic code at last published and loaded onto CD-ROMs and DVDs, scientists are talking about a new era of medicine in which medical discoveries will be made not 'in vivo' (in life) or 'in vitro' (in test tubes), but 'in silico,' or on computers."
—Rick Weiss, "A New Genetic Window on Curing Diseases," The Washington Post, February 11, 2001
Earliest Citation:
"Some a-life researchers claim they are creating life forms on computers, in silico creatures as truly alive as the bacteria studied in vitro."
—Joshua Quittner, "Artificial Life Gets Real," Newsday, July 21, 1992
Notes:
As the above citation makes clear, today's phrase is a variation on the much older Latin phrases in vivo and in vitro. Although in silico (literally, "in silicon") has likely been around in scientific circles for a while,
