biologicalmaterial

Biological material refers to any material that originates from living organisms or contains biological components such as cells, tissues, nucleic acids, proteins, or metabolites. It includes intact organisms, tissues, bodily fluids, cultured cells, environmental samples containing microorganisms, and purified biomolecules. The term is used across science, medicine, and law to describe physical matter that bears biological information or biological activity.

Common categories include biospecimens (human or animal tissues, blood, urine, saliva), microbial cultures, environmental samples (soil, water, air), and isolated biomolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins). In materials science, the related term biomaterial describes a substance designed to interface with biological systems; however, the two terms are not always interchangeable.

Applications span research, clinical diagnostics, biobanking, forensics, and drug development. Handling biological material requires appropriate biosafety measures and, for human-derived material, ethical approvals and informed consent. Regulations address privacy, ownership, permissible use, and data sharing to protect individuals and communities.

Storage and preservation depend on material type and intended use. Many samples require standardized labeling, documentation of provenance, and controlled temperature conditions to maintain integrity and enable future reuse. Metadata and quality control play important roles in ensuring traceability, reproducibility, and compliance with regulatory and ethical standards.