A wet lab is a type of laboratory where a wide range of experiments are performed, such as characterizing enzymes in biology, titration in chemistry, and diffraction of light in physics, all of which may involve dealing with hazardous substances. Wet labs are designed to handle various types of chemicals and potential "wet" hazards, so the room has to be carefully designed, constructed, and controlled to avoid spillage and contamination. In a wet lab, testing and analyses are performed using physical samples, chemicals, and liquids. Wet labs require specific structural requirements, such as plumbing, taps, sinks, and the means to store, treat, and/or safely dispose of hazardous material. Wet labs must meet many strict specifications, most of which are designed to ensure that the environmental conditions in the room are controlled. Wet labs are essential for scientists who need to work with liquids, but they can be more difficult to keep clean and organized.
In contrast, a dry lab is designed primarily for calculations and research, and the discoveries that are made in a dry lab occur with computer software, while the discoveries that take place in a wet lab are done with chemicals and live specimens. Dry labs are typically reserved for computer work and other tasks that don’t require access to water. Dry lab experiments can occur within an online or offline mode, which makes them much different than the routine and structured experiments that occur in wet labs.
In summary, a wet lab is a laboratory where experiments are performed using physical samples, chemicals, and liquids, while a dry lab is designed primarily for calculations and research. Wet labs require specific structural requirements, such as plumbing, taps, sinks, and the means to store, treat, and/or safely dispose of hazardous material. Dry labs are typically reserved for computer work and other tasks that don’t require access to water.
