Ontology for Biomedical Investigations
type: Ontology
version IRI: obi core.owl
default language: en
IAO_0000589: Ontology for Biomedical Investigations
contributor: Advisors for this project come from the IFOMIS group, Saarbruecken and from the Co-ODE group in Manchester
creator: Alan Ruttenberg
creator: Allyson Lister
creator: Barry Smith
creator: Bill Bug
creator: Bjoern Peters
creator: Carlo Torniai
creator: Chris Mungall
creator: Chris Stoeckert
creator: Chris Taylor
creator: Christian Bolling
creator: Cristian Cocos
creator: Daniel Rubin
creator: Daniel Schober
creator: Dawn Field
creator: Dirk Derom
creator: Elisabetta Manduchi
creator: Eric Deutsch
creator: Frank Gibson
creator: Gilberto Fragoso
creator: Helen C. Causton
creator: Helen Parkinson
creator: Holger Stenzhorn
creator: James A. Overton
creator: James Malone
creator: Jay Greenbaum
creator: Jeffrey Grethe
creator: Jennifer Fostel
creator: Jessica Turner
creator: Jie Zheng
creator: Joe White
creator: John Westbrook
creator: Kevin Clancy
creator: Larisa Soldatova
creator: Lawrence Hunter
creator: Liju Fan
creator: Luisa Montecchi
creator: Matthew Brush
creator: Matthew Pocock
creator: Melanie Courtot
creator: Melissa Haendel
creator: Mervi Heiskanen
creator: Monnie McGee
creator: Norman Morrison
creator: Philippe Rocca-Serra
creator: Phillip Lord
creator: Pierre Grenon
creator: Richard Bruskiewich
creator: Richard Scheuermann
creator: Robert Stevens
creator: Ryan R. Brinkman
creator: Stefan Wiemann
creator: Susanna-Assunta Sansone
creator: Tanya Gray
creator: Tina Hernandez-Boussard
creator: Trish Whetzel
creator: Yongqun He
date: 2009-07-31
description: An ontology for representing biomedical investigations, including study designs, the collection and preparation of the targets of investigation, assays, instrumentation and reagents used, as well as the data generated and the types of analysis performed on the data to reach conclusions, and their documentation.
format: OWL-DL
subject: An ontology for the annotation of biomedical and functional genomics experiments.
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
comment: Please cite the OBI consortium http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi where traditional citation is called for. However it is adequate that individual terms be attributed simply by use of the identifying PURL for the term, in projects that refer to them.
version info: 2023-03-10

BFO OWL specification label
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: Relates an entity in the ontology to the name of the variable that is used to represent it in the code that generates the BFO OWL file from the lispy specification.
curator note: Really of interest to developers only

BFO CLIF specification label
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: Relates an entity in the ontology to the term that is used to represent it in the the CLIF specification of BFO2
definition source: Person:Alan Ruttenberg
curator note: Really of interest to developers only

editor preferred label
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: editor preferred label
editor preferred label: editor preferred term
editor preferred label: editor preferred term~editor preferred label
has curation status: ready for release
definition: The concise, meaningful, and human-friendly name for a class or property preferred by the ontology developers. (US-English)
term editor: PERSON:Daniel Schober
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>
label: editor preferred term
label: editor preferred term~editor preferred label

example of usage
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: example of usage
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A phrase describing how a term should be used and/or a citation to a work which uses it. May also include other kinds of examples that facilitate immediate understanding, such as widely know prototypes or instances of a class, or cases where a relation is said to hold.
term editor: PERSON:Daniel Schober
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>

has curation status
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: has curation status
term editor: PERSON:Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON:Bill Bug
term editor: PERSON:Melanie Courtot

definition
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: definition
editor preferred label: textual definition
has curation status: ready for release
definition: The official OBI definition, explaining the meaning of a class or property. Shall be Aristotelian, formalized and normalized. Can be augmented with colloquial definitions.
definition: The official definition, explaining the meaning of a class or property. Shall be Aristotelian, formalized and normalized. Can be augmented with colloquial definitions.
editor note: 2012-04-05: Barry Smith The official OBI definition, explaining the meaning of a class or property: 'Shall be Aristotelian, formalized and normalized. Can be augmented with colloquial definitions' is terrible. Can you fix to something like: A statement of necessary and sufficient conditions explaining the meaning of an expression referring to a class or property. Alan Ruttenberg Your proposed definition is a reasonable candidate, except that it is very common that necessary and sufficient conditions are not given. Mostly they are necessary, occasionally they are necessary and sufficient or just sufficient. Often they use terms that are not themselves defined and so they effectively can't be evaluated by those criteria. On the specifics of the proposed definition: We don't have definitions of 'meaning' or 'expression' or 'property'. For 'reference' in the intended sense I think we use the term 'denotation'. For 'expression', I think we you mean symbol, or identifier. For 'meaning' it differs for class and property. For class we want documentation that let's the intended reader determine whether an entity is instance of the class, or not. For property we want documentation that let's the intended reader determine, given a pair of potential relata, whether the assertion that the relation holds is true. The 'intended reader' part suggests that we also specify who, we expect, would be able to understand the definition, and also generalizes over human and computer reader to include textual and logical definition. Personally, I am more comfortable weakening definition to documentation, with instructions as to what is desirable. We also have the outstanding issue of how to aim different definitions to different audiences. A clinical audience reading chebi wants a different sort of definition documentation/definition from a chemistry trained audience, and similarly there is a need for a definition that is adequate for an ontologist to work with.
term editor: PERSON:Daniel Schober
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>
label: textual definition

editor note
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: editor note
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An administrative note intended for its editor. It may not be included in the publication version of the ontology, so it should contain nothing necessary for end users to understand the ontology.
term editor: PERSON:Daniel Schober
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obofoundry.org/obo/obi>

term editor
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: term editor
has curation status: ready for release
definition: Name of editor entering the term in the file. The term editor is a point of contact for information regarding the term. The term editor may be, but is not always, the author of the definition, which may have been worked upon by several people
editor note: 20110707, MC: label update to term editor and definition modified accordingly. See https://github.com/information-artifact-ontology/IAO/issues/115.
term editor: PERSON:Daniel Schober
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>

alternative term
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: alternative term
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: An alternative name for a class or property which means the same thing as the preferred name (semantically equivalent)
term editor: PERSON:Daniel Schober
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>

definition source
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: definition source
has curation status: ready for release
definition: Formal citation, e.g. identifier in external database to indicate / attribute source(s) for the definition. Free text indicate / attribute source(s) for the definition. EXAMPLE: Author Name, URI, MeSH Term C04, PUBMED ID, Wiki uri on 31.01.2007
term editor: PERSON:Daniel Schober
definition source: Discussion on obo-discuss mailing-list, see http://bit.ly/hgm99w
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>

curator note
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: curator note
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An administrative note of use for a curator but of no use for a user
term editor: PERSON:Alan Ruttenberg

imported from
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: imported from
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: For external terms/classes, the ontology from which the term was imported
term editor: PERSON:Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON:Melanie Courtot
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>

elucidation
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: elucidation
term editor: person:Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Person:Barry Smith
elucidation: Primitive terms in a highest-level ontology such as BFO are terms which are so basic to our understanding of reality that there is no way of defining them in a non-circular fashion. For these, therefore, we can provide only elucidations, supplemented by examples and by axioms

has associated axiom(nl)
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: has associated axiom(nl)
term editor: Person:Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Person:Alan Ruttenberg
elucidation: An axiom associated with a term expressed using natural language

has associated axiom(fol)
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: has associated axiom(fol)
term editor: Person:Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Person:Alan Ruttenberg
elucidation: An axiom expressed in first order logic using CLIF syntax

has axiom label
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: has axiom id
term editor: Person:Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Person:Alan Ruttenberg
elucidation: A URI that is intended to be unique label for an axiom used for tracking change to the ontology. For an axiom expressed in different languages, each expression is given the same URI

ISA alternative term
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: ISA alternative term
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An alternative term used by the ISA tools project (http://isa-tools.org).
editor note: Requested by Alejandra Gonzalez-Beltran https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=3603413&group_id=177891&atid=886178
term editor: Person: Alejandra Gonzalez-Beltran
term editor: Person: Philippe Rocca-Serra
definition source: ISA tools project (http://isa-tools.org)

IEDB alternative term
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred label: IEDB alternative term
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An alternative term used by the IEDB.
term editor: PERSON:Randi Vita, Jason Greenbaum, Bjoern Peters
definition source: IEDB

temporal interpretation
type: AnnotationProperty
definition: An assertion that holds between an OWL Object Property and a temporal interpretation that elucidates how OWL Class Axioms that use this property are to be interpreted in a temporal context.

part of
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: has part
type: TransitiveProperty
editor preferred label: is part of
example of usage: my brain is part of my body (continuant parthood, two material entities)
example of usage: my stomach cavity is part of my stomach (continuant parthood, immaterial entity is part of material entity)
example of usage: this day is part of this year (occurrent parthood)
definition: a core relation that holds between a part and its whole
editor note: Everything is part of itself. Any part of any part of a thing is itself part of that thing. Two distinct things cannot be part of each other.
editor note: Occurrents are not subject to change and so parthood between occurrents holds for all the times that the part exists. Many continuants are subject to change, so parthood between continuants will only hold at certain times, but this is difficult to specify in OWL. See https://code.google.com/p/obo-relations/wiki/ROAndTime
editor note: Parthood requires the part and the whole to have compatible classes: only an occurrent can be part of an occurrent; only a process can be part of a process; only a continuant can be part of a continuant; only an independent continuant can be part of an independent continuant; only an immaterial entity can be part of an immaterial entity; only a specifically dependent continuant can be part of a specifically dependent continuant; only a generically dependent continuant can be part of a generically dependent continuant. (This list is not exhaustive.) A continuant cannot be part of an occurrent: use 'participates in'. An occurrent cannot be part of a continuant: use 'has participant'. A material entity cannot be part of an immaterial entity: use 'has location'. A specifically dependent continuant cannot be part of an independent continuant: use 'inheres in'. An independent continuant cannot be part of a specifically dependent continuant: use 'bearer of'.
alternative term: part_of
temporal interpretation: RO_0001901

has part
type: ObjectProperty
type: TransitiveProperty
editor preferred label: has part
example of usage: my body has part my brain (continuant parthood, two material entities)
example of usage: my stomach has part my stomach cavity (continuant parthood, material entity has part immaterial entity)
example of usage: this year has part this day (occurrent parthood)
definition: a core relation that holds between a whole and its part
editor note: Everything has itself as a part. Any part of any part of a thing is itself part of that thing. Two distinct things cannot have each other as a part.
editor note: Occurrents are not subject to change and so parthood between occurrents holds for all the times that the part exists. Many continuants are subject to change, so parthood between continuants will only hold at certain times, but this is difficult to specify in OWL. See https://code.google.com/p/obo-relations/wiki/ROAndTime
editor note: Parthood requires the part and the whole to have compatible classes: only an occurrent have an occurrent as part; only a process can have a process as part; only a continuant can have a continuant as part; only an independent continuant can have an independent continuant as part; only a specifically dependent continuant can have a specifically dependent continuant as part; only a generically dependent continuant can have a generically dependent continuant as part. (This list is not exhaustive.) A continuant cannot have an occurrent as part: use 'participates in'. An occurrent cannot have a continuant as part: use 'has participant'. An immaterial entity cannot have a material entity as part: use 'location of'. An independent continuant cannot have a specifically dependent continuant as part: use 'bearer of'. A specifically dependent continuant cannot have an independent continuant as part: use 'inheres in'.
alternative term: has_part
temporal interpretation: RO_0001901

realized in
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: realizes
domain: realizable entity
range: process
editor preferred label: realized in
example of usage: this disease is realized in this disease course
example of usage: this fragility is realized in this shattering
example of usage: this investigator role is realized in this investigation
alternative term: is realized by
alternative term: realized_in
elucidation: [copied from inverse property 'realizes'] to say that b realizes c at t is to assert that there is some material entity d & b is a process which has participant d at t & c is a disposition or role of which d is bearer_of at t& the type instantiated by b is correlated with the type instantiated by c. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [059-003])
comment: Paraphrase of elucidation: a relation between a realizable entity and a process, where there is some material entity that is bearer of the realizable entity and participates in the process, and the realizable entity comes to be realized in the course of the process

realizes
type: ObjectProperty
domain: process
range: realizable entity
editor preferred label: realizes
example of usage: this disease course realizes this disease
example of usage: this investigation realizes this investigator role
example of usage: this shattering realizes this fragility
elucidation: to say that b realizes c at t is to assert that there is some material entity d & b is a process which has participant d at t & c is a disposition or role of which d is bearer_of at t& the type instantiated by b is correlated with the type instantiated by c. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [059-003])
comment: Paraphrase of elucidation: a relation between a process and a realizable entity, where there is some material entity that is bearer of the realizable entity and participates in the process, and the realizable entity comes to be realized in the course of the process

is about
type: ObjectProperty
domain: information content entity
example of usage: This document is about information artifacts and their representations
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: A (currently) primitive relation that relates an information artifact to an entity.
editor note: 7/6/2009 Alan Ruttenberg. Following discussion with Jonathan Rees, and introduction of "mentions" relation. Weaken the is_about relationship to be primitive. We will try to build it back up by elaborating the various subproperties that are more precisely defined. Some currently missing phenomena that should be considered "about" are predications - "The only person who knows the answer is sitting beside me" , Allegory, Satire, and other literary forms that can be topical without explicitly mentioning the topic.
term editor: person:Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Smith, Ceusters, Ruttenberg, 2000 years of philosophy

denotes
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is about
inverse of: denoted by
domain: information content entity
range: entity
example of usage: A person's name denotes the person. A variable name in a computer program denotes some piece of memory. Lexically equivalent strings can denote different things, for instance "Alan" can denote different people. In each case of use, there is a case of the denotation relation obtaining, between "Alan" and the person that is being named.
definition: A primitive, instance-level, relation obtaining between an information content entity and some portion of reality. Denotation is what happens when someone creates an information content entity E in order to specifically refer to something. The only relation between E and the thing is that E can be used to 'pick out' the thing. This relation connects those two together. Freedictionary.com sense 3: To signify directly; refer to specifically
editor note: 2009-11-10 Alan Ruttenberg. Old definition said the following to emphasize the generic nature of this relation. We no longer have 'specifically denotes', which would have been primitive, so make this relation primitive. g denotes r =def r is a portion of reality there is some c that is a concretization of g every c that is a concretization of g specifically denotes r
term editor: person:Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Conversations with Barry Smith, Werner Ceusters, Bjoern Peters, Michel Dumontier, Melanie Courtot, James Malone, Bill Hogan

denoted by
type: ObjectProperty
domain: entity
range: information content entity
definition: inverse of the relation 'denotes'
term editor: Person: Jie Zheng, Chris Stoeckert, Mike Conlon
IAO_0000233: https://github.com/information-artifact-ontology/IAO/issues/206

is_supported_by_data
type: ObjectProperty
domain: conclusion based on data
range: data item
editor preferred label: is_supported_by_data
example of usage: The relation between the conclusion "Gene tpbA is involved in EPS production" and the data items produced using two sets of organisms, one being a tpbA knockout, the other being tpbA wildtype tested in polysacharide production assays and analyzed using an ANOVA.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: The relation between a data item and a conclusion where the conclusion is the output of a data interpreting process and the data item is used as an input to that process
term editor: OBI
definition source: OBI
definition source: Philly 2011 workshop

has_specified_input
type: ObjectProperty
equivalent property:
  inverse of: is_specified_input_of
sub property of: has participant
inverse of: is_specified_input_of
domain: planned process
editor preferred label: has_specified_input
example of usage: see is_input_of example_of_usage
has curation status: ready for release
definition: The inverse property of is_specified_input_of
editor note: 8/17/09: specified inputs of one process are not necessarily specified inputs of a larger process that it is part of. This is in contrast to how 'has participant' works.
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Larry Hunter
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Coutot
imported from: obi.owl

is_specified_input_of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: participates in
range: planned process
editor preferred label: is_specified_input_of
example of usage: some Autologous EBV(Epstein-Barr virus)-transformed B-LCL (B lymphocyte cell line) is_input_for instance of Chromum Release Assay described at https://wiki.cbil.upenn.edu/obiwiki/index.php/Chromium_Release_assay
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A relation between a planned process and a continuant participating in that process that is not created during the process. The presence of the continuant during the process is explicitly specified in the plan specification which the process realizes the concretization of.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON:Bjoern Peters

has_specified_output
type: ObjectProperty
equivalent property:
  inverse of: is_specified_output_of
sub property of: has participant
inverse of: is_specified_output_of
domain: planned process
editor preferred label: has_specified_output
has curation status: ready for release
definition: The inverse property of is_specified_output_of
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Larry Hunter
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Courtot
imported from: obi.owl

is_specified_output_of
type: ObjectProperty
equivalent property:
  inverse of: has_specified_output
sub property of: participates in
range: planned process
editor preferred label: is_specified_output_of
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A relation between a planned process and a continuant participating in that process. The presence of the continuant at the end of the process is explicitly specified in the objective specification which the process realizes the concretization of.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON:Bjoern Peters
imported from: obi.owl

achieves_planned_objective
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: objective_achieved_by
domain: planned process
range: objective specification
editor preferred label: achieves_planned_objective
example of usage: A cell sorting process achieves the objective specification 'material separation objective'
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: This relation obtains between a planned process and a objective specification when the criteria specified in the objective specification are met at the end of the planned process.
term editor: BP, AR, PPPB branch
definition source: PPPB branch derived
curator note: modified according to email thread from 1/23/09 in accordince with DT and PPPB branch

objective_achieved_by
type: ObjectProperty
domain: objective specification
range: planned process
editor preferred label: objective_achieved_by
has curation status: ready for release
definition: This relation obtains between an objective specification and a planned process when the criteria specified in the objective specification are met at the end of the planned process.
term editor: OBI
definition source: OBI

has value specification
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has part
domain: information content entity
range: value specification
editor preferred label: has value specification
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: A relation between an information content entity and a value specification that specifies its value.
term editor: PERSON: James A. Overton
definition source: OBI

inheres in
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: bearer of
editor preferred label: inheres in
example of usage: this fragility inheres in this vase
example of usage: this red color inheres in this apple
definition: a relation between a specifically dependent continuant (the dependent) and an independent continuant (the bearer), in which the dependent specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
editor note: A dependent inheres in its bearer at all times for which the dependent exists.
alternative term: inheres_in
temporal interpretation: RO_0001901

bearer of
type: ObjectProperty
range: specifically dependent continuant
editor preferred label: bearer of
example of usage: this apple is bearer of this red color
example of usage: this vase is bearer of this fragility
definition: a relation between an independent continuant (the bearer) and a specifically dependent continuant (the dependent), in which the dependent specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
editor note: A bearer can have many dependents, and its dependents can exist for different periods of time, but none of its dependents can exist when the bearer does not exist.
alternative term: bearer_of
alternative term: is bearer of
temporal interpretation: RO_0001901

participates in
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: has participant
domain: continuant
range: occurrent
editor preferred label: participates in
example of usage: this blood clot participates in this blood coagulation
example of usage: this input material (or this output material) participates in this process
example of usage: this investigator participates in this investigation
definition: a relation between a continuant and a process, in which the continuant is somehow involved in the process
alternative term: participates_in

has participant
type: ObjectProperty
domain: occurrent
range: continuant
editor preferred label: has participant
example of usage: this blood coagulation has participant this blood clot
example of usage: this investigation has participant this investigator
example of usage: this process has participant this input material (or this output material)
definition: a relation between a process and a continuant, in which the continuant is somehow involved in the process
editor note: Has_participant is a primitive instance-level relation between a process, a continuant, and a time at which the continuant participates in some way in the process. The relation obtains, for example, when this particular process of oxygen exchange across this particular alveolar membrane has_participant this particular sample of hemoglobin at this particular time.
alternative term: has_participant
source: http://www.obofoundry.org/ro/#OBO_REL:has_participant

is concretized as
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: concretizes
domain: generically dependent continuant
range: specifically dependent continuant
example of usage: A journal article is an information artifact that inheres in some number of printed journals. For each copy of the printed journal there is some quality that carries the journal article, such as a pattern of ink. The journal article (a generically dependent continuant) is concretized as the quality (a specifically dependent continuant), and both depend on that copy of the printed journal (an independent continuant).
example of usage: An investigator reads a protocol and forms a plan to carry out an assay. The plan is a realizable entity (a specifically dependent continuant) that concretizes the protocol (a generically dependent continuant), and both depend on the investigator (an independent continuant). The plan is then realized by the assay (a process).
definition: A relationship between a generically dependent continuant and a specifically dependent continuant, in which the generically dependent continuant depends on some independent continuant in virtue of the fact that the specifically dependent continuant also depends on that same independent continuant. A generically dependent continuant may be concretized as multiple specifically dependent continuants.

concretizes
type: ObjectProperty
domain: specifically dependent continuant
range: generically dependent continuant
example of usage: A journal article is an information artifact that inheres in some number of printed journals. For each copy of the printed journal there is some quality that carries the journal article, such as a pattern of ink. The quality (a specifically dependent continuant) concretizes the journal article (a generically dependent continuant), and both depend on that copy of the printed journal (an independent continuant).
example of usage: An investigator reads a protocol and forms a plan to carry out an assay. The plan is a realizable entity (a specifically dependent continuant) that concretizes the protocol (a generically dependent continuant), and both depend on the investigator (an independent continuant). The plan is then realized by the assay (a process).
definition: A relationship between a specifically dependent continuant and a generically dependent continuant, in which the generically dependent continuant depends on some independent continuant in virtue of the fact that the specifically dependent continuant also depends on that same independent continuant. Multiple specifically dependent continuants can concretize the same generically dependent continuant.

function of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: inheres in
inverse of: has function
domain: function
example of usage: this catalysis function is a function of this enzyme
definition: a relation between a function and an independent continuant (the bearer), in which the function specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
editor note: A function inheres in its bearer at all times for which the function exists, however the function need not be realized at all the times that the function exists.
alternative term: function_of
alternative term: is function of

role of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: inheres in
inverse of: has role
example of usage: this investigator role is a role of this person
definition: a relation between a role and an independent continuant (the bearer), in which the role specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
editor note: A role inheres in its bearer at all times for which the role exists, however the role need not be realized at all the times that the role exists.
alternative term: is role of
alternative term: role_of

has function
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: bearer of
domain: independent continuant
range: function
example of usage: this enzyme has function this catalysis function (more colloquially: this enzyme has this catalysis function)
definition: a relation between an independent continuant (the bearer) and a function, in which the function specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
editor note: A bearer can have many functions, and its functions can exist for different periods of time, but none of its functions can exist when the bearer does not exist. A function need not be realized at all the times that the function exists.
alternative term: has_function

has role
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: bearer of
domain: independent continuant
range: role
example of usage: this person has role this investigator role (more colloquially: this person has this role of investigator)
definition: a relation between an independent continuant (the bearer) and a role, in which the role specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
editor note: A bearer can have many roles, and its roles can exist for different periods of time, but none of its roles can exist when the bearer does not exist. A role need not be realized at all the times that the role exists.
alternative term: has_role

derives from
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: derives into
domain: independent continuant
range: independent continuant
editor preferred label: derives from
example of usage: this cell derives from this parent cell (cell division)
example of usage: this nucleus derives from this parent nucleus (nuclear division)
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: a relation between two distinct material entities, the new entity and the old entity, in which the new entity begins to exist when the old entity ceases to exist, and the new entity inherits the significant portion of the matter of the old entity
editor note: This is a very general relation. More specific relations are preferred when applicable, such as 'directly develops from'.
alternative term: derives_from
imported from: ro.owl

derives into
type: ObjectProperty
example of usage: this parent cell derives into this cell (cell division)
example of usage: this parent nucleus derives into this nucleus (nuclear division)
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: a relation between two distinct material entities, the old entity and the new entity, in which the new entity begins to exist when the old entity ceases to exist, and the new entity inherits the significant portion of the matter of the old entity
editor note: This is a very general relation. More specific relations are preferred when applicable, such as 'directly develops into'. To avoid making statements about a future that may not come to pass, it is often better to use the backward-looking 'derives from' rather than the forward-looking 'derives into'.
alternative term: derives_into

member of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: part of
inverse of: has member
example of usage: An organism that is a member of a population of organisms
definition: is member of is a mereological relation between a item and a collection.
alternative term: is member of
alternative term: member part of
definition source: SIO
temporal interpretation: RO_0001901

has member
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: has part
type: IrreflexiveProperty
definition: has member is a mereological relation between a collection and an item.
definition source: SIO
temporal interpretation: RO_0001901

entity
type: Class
BFO OWL specification label: entity
BFO CLIF specification label: Entity
example of usage: Julius Caesar
example of usage: Verdi’s Requiem
example of usage: the Second World War
example of usage: your body mass index
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: In all areas of empirical inquiry we encounter general terms of two sorts. First are general terms which refer to universals or types:animaltuberculosissurgical procedurediseaseSecond, are general terms used to refer to groups of entities which instantiate a given universal but do not correspond to the extension of any subuniversal of that universal because there is nothing intrinsic to the entities in question by virtue of which they – and only they – are counted as belonging to the given group. Examples are: animal purchased by the Emperortuberculosis diagnosed on a Wednesdaysurgical procedure performed on a patient from Stockholmperson identified as candidate for clinical trial #2056-555person who is signatory of Form 656-PPVpainting by Leonardo da VinciSuch terms, which represent what are called ‘specializations’ in [81
editor note: Entity doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. For example Werner Ceusters 'portions of reality' include 4 sorts, entities (as BFO construes them), universals, configurations, and relations. It is an open question as to whether entities as construed in BFO will at some point also include these other portions of reality. See, for example, 'How to track absolutely everything' at http://www.referent-tracking.com/_RTU/papers/CeustersICbookRevised.pdf
elucidation: An entity is anything that exists or has existed or will exist. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [001-001])

Axiom
annotated source: entity
annotated property: editor note
annotated target: Entity doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. For example Werner Ceusters 'portions of reality' include 4 sorts, entities (as BFO construes them), universals, configurations, and relations. It is an open question as to whether entities as construed in BFO will at some point also include these other portions of reality. See, for example, 'How to track absolutely everything' at http://www.referent-tracking.com/_RTU/papers/CeustersICbookRevised.pdf
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/0000004
comment: per discussion with Barry Smith

Axiom
annotated source: entity
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: An entity is anything that exists or has existed or will exist. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [001-001])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/001-001

continuant
type: Class
subclass of: entity
disjoint with: occurrent
disjoint with: Restriction
  on property: part of
  some values from: occurrent
BFO OWL specification label: continuant
BFO CLIF specification label: Continuant
editor preferred label: continuant
definition: An entity that exists in full at any time in which it exists at all, persists through time while maintaining its identity and has no temporal parts.
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: Continuant entities are entities which can be sliced to yield parts only along the spatial dimension, yielding for example the parts of your table which we call its legs, its top, its nails. ‘My desk stretches from the window to the door. It has spatial parts, and can be sliced (in space) in two. With respect to time, however, a thing is a continuant.’ [60, p. 240
editor note: Continuant doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. For example, in an expansion involving bringing in some of Ceuster's other portions of reality, questions are raised as to whether universals are continuants
imported from: pato.owl
elucidation: A continuant is an entity that persists, endures, or continues to exist through time while maintaining its identity. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [008-002])
has associated axiom(nl): if b is a continuant and if, for some t, c has_continuant_part b at t, then c is a continuant. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [126-001])
has associated axiom(nl): if b is a continuant and if, for some t, cis continuant_part of b at t, then c is a continuant. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [009-002])
has associated axiom(nl): if b is a material entity, then there is some temporal interval (referred to below as a one-dimensional temporal region) during which b exists. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [011-002])
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x y) (if (and (Continuant x) (exists (t) (continuantPartOfAt y x t))) (Continuant y))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [009-002]
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x y) (if (and (Continuant x) (exists (t) (hasContinuantPartOfAt y x t))) (Continuant y))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [126-001]
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x) (if (Continuant x) (Entity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [008-002]
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x) (if (Material Entity x) (exists (t) (and (TemporalRegion t) (existsAt x t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [011-002]

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: editor note
annotated target: Continuant doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. For example, in an expansion involving bringing in some of Ceuster's other portions of reality, questions are raised as to whether universals are continuants
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/0000007

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: A continuant is an entity that persists, endures, or continues to exist through time while maintaining its identity. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [008-002])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/008-002

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(nl)
annotated target: if b is a continuant and if, for some t, c has_continuant_part b at t, then c is a continuant. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [126-001])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/126-001

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(nl)
annotated target: if b is a continuant and if, for some t, cis continuant_part of b at t, then c is a continuant. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [009-002])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/009-002

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(nl)
annotated target: if b is a material entity, then there is some temporal interval (referred to below as a one-dimensional temporal region) during which b exists. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [011-002])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/011-002

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x y) (if (and (Continuant x) (exists (t) (continuantPartOfAt y x t))) (Continuant y))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [009-002]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/009-002

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x y) (if (and (Continuant x) (exists (t) (hasContinuantPartOfAt y x t))) (Continuant y))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [126-001]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/126-001

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (Continuant x) (Entity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [008-002]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/008-002

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (Material Entity x) (exists (t) (and (TemporalRegion t) (existsAt x t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [011-002]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/011-002

occurrent
type: Class
subclass of: entity
disjoint with: Restriction
  on property: part of
  some values from: continuant
BFO OWL specification label: occurrent
BFO CLIF specification label: Occurrent
definition: An entity that has temporal parts and that happens, unfolds or develops through time.
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: every occurrent that is not a temporal or spatiotemporal region is s-dependent on some independent continuant that is not a spatial region
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: s-dependence obtains between every process and its participants in the sense that, as a matter of necessity, this process could not have existed unless these or those participants existed also. A process may have a succession of participants at different phases of its unfolding. Thus there may be different players on the field at different times during the course of a football game; but the process which is the entire game s-depends_on all of these players nonetheless. Some temporal parts of this process will s-depend_on on only some of the players.
editor note: Occurrent doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. An example would be the sum of a process and the process boundary of another process.
editor note: Simons uses different terminology for relations of occurrents to regions: Denote the spatio-temporal location of a given occurrent e by 'spn[e]' and call this region its span. We may say an occurrent is at its span, in any larger region, and covers any smaller region. Now suppose we have fixed a frame of reference so that we can speak not merely of spatio-temporal but also of spatial regions (places) and temporal regions (times). The spread of an occurrent, (relative to a frame of reference) is the space it exactly occupies, and its spell is likewise the time it exactly occupies. We write 'spr[e]' and `spl[e]' respectively for the spread and spell of e, omitting mention of the frame.
elucidation: An occurrent is an entity that unfolds itself in time or it is the instantaneous boundary of such an entity (for example a beginning or an ending) or it is a temporal or spatiotemporal region which such an entity occupies_temporal_region or occupies_spatiotemporal_region. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [077-002])
has associated axiom(nl): Every occurrent occupies_spatiotemporal_region some spatiotemporal region. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [108-001])
has associated axiom(nl): b is an occurrent entity iff b is an entity that has temporal parts. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [079-001])
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x) (if (Occurrent x) (exists (r) (and (SpatioTemporalRegion r) (occupiesSpatioTemporalRegion x r))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [108-001]
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x) (iff (Occurrent x) (and (Entity x) (exists (y) (temporalPartOf y x))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [079-001]

Axiom
annotated source: occurrent
annotated property: editor note
annotated target: Occurrent doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. An example would be the sum of a process and the process boundary of another process.
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/0000006
comment: per discussion with Barry Smith

Axiom
annotated source: occurrent
annotated property: editor note
annotated target: Simons uses different terminology for relations of occurrents to regions: Denote the spatio-temporal location of a given occurrent e by 'spn[e]' and call this region its span. We may say an occurrent is at its span, in any larger region, and covers any smaller region. Now suppose we have fixed a frame of reference so that we can speak not merely of spatio-temporal but also of spatial regions (places) and temporal regions (times). The spread of an occurrent, (relative to a frame of reference) is the space it exactly occupies, and its spell is likewise the time it exactly occupies. We write 'spr[e]' and `spl[e]' respectively for the spread and spell of e, omitting mention of the frame.
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/0000012

Axiom
annotated source: occurrent
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: An occurrent is an entity that unfolds itself in time or it is the instantaneous boundary of such an entity (for example a beginning or an ending) or it is a temporal or spatiotemporal region which such an entity occupies_temporal_region or occupies_spatiotemporal_region. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [077-002])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/077-002

Axiom
annotated source: occurrent
annotated property: has associated axiom(nl)
annotated target: Every occurrent occupies_spatiotemporal_region some spatiotemporal region. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [108-001])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/108-001

Axiom
annotated source: occurrent
annotated property: has associated axiom(nl)
annotated target: b is an occurrent entity iff b is an entity that has temporal parts. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [079-001])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/079-001

Axiom
annotated source: occurrent
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (Occurrent x) (exists (r) (and (SpatioTemporalRegion r) (occupiesSpatioTemporalRegion x r))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [108-001]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/108-001

Axiom
annotated source: occurrent
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x) (iff (Occurrent x) (and (Entity x) (exists (y) (temporalPartOf y x))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [079-001]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/079-001

independent continuant
type: Class
subclass of: continuant
disjoint with: specifically dependent continuant
disjoint with: generically dependent continuant
BFO OWL specification label: ic
BFO CLIF specification label: IndependentContinuant
example of usage: a chair
example of usage: a heart
example of usage: a leg
example of usage: a molecule
example of usage: a spatial region
example of usage: an atom
example of usage: an orchestra.
example of usage: an organism
example of usage: the bottom right portion of a human torso
example of usage: the interior of your mouth
definition: A continuant that is a bearer of quality and realizable entity entities, in which other entities inhere and which itself cannot inhere in anything.
definition: b is an independent continuant = Def. b is a continuant which is such that there is no c and no t such that b s-depends_on c at t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [017-002])
has associated axiom(nl): For any independent continuant b and any time t there is some spatial region r such that b is located_in r at t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [134-001])
has associated axiom(nl): For every independent continuant b and time t during the region of time spanned by its life, there are entities which s-depends_on b during t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [018-002])
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x t) (if (IndependentContinuant x) (exists (r) (and (SpatialRegion r) (locatedInAt x r t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [134-001]
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x t) (if (and (IndependentContinuant x) (existsAt x t)) (exists (y) (and (Entity y) (specificallyDependsOnAt y x t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [018-002]
has associated axiom(fol): (iff (IndependentContinuant a) (and (Continuant a) (not (exists (b t) (specificallyDependsOnAt a b t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [017-002]

Axiom
annotated source: independent continuant
annotated property: definition
annotated target: b is an independent continuant = Def. b is a continuant which is such that there is no c and no t such that b s-depends_on c at t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [017-002])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/017-002

Axiom
annotated source: independent continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(nl)
annotated target: For any independent continuant b and any time t there is some spatial region r such that b is located_in r at t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [134-001])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/134-001

Axiom
annotated source: independent continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(nl)
annotated target: For every independent continuant b and time t during the region of time spanned by its life, there are entities which s-depends_on b during t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [018-002])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/018-002

Axiom
annotated source: independent continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x t) (if (IndependentContinuant x) (exists (r) (and (SpatialRegion r) (locatedInAt x r t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [134-001]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/134-001

Axiom
annotated source: independent continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x t) (if (and (IndependentContinuant x) (existsAt x t)) (exists (y) (and (Entity y) (specificallyDependsOnAt y x t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [018-002]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/018-002

Axiom
annotated source: independent continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (iff (IndependentContinuant a) (and (Continuant a) (not (exists (b t) (specificallyDependsOnAt a b t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [017-002]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/017-002

process
type: Class
subclass of: occurrent
BFO OWL specification label: process
BFO CLIF specification label: Process
example of usage: a process of cell-division, \ a beating of the heart
example of usage: a process of meiosis
example of usage: a process of sleeping
example of usage: the course of a disease
example of usage: the flight of a bird
example of usage: the life of an organism
example of usage: your process of aging.
definition: An occurrent that has temporal proper parts and for some time t, p s-depends_on some material entity at t.
definition: p is a process = Def. p is an occurrent that has temporal proper parts and for some time t, p s-depends_on some material entity at t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [083-003])
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: The realm of occurrents is less pervasively marked by the presence of natural units than is the case in the realm of independent continuants. Thus there is here no counterpart of ‘object’. In BFO 1.0 ‘process’ served as such a counterpart. In BFO 2.0 ‘process’ is, rather, the occurrent counterpart of ‘material entity’. Those natural – as contrasted with engineered, which here means: deliberately executed – units which do exist in the realm of occurrents are typically either parasitic on the existence of natural units on the continuant side, or they are fiat in nature. Thus we can count lives; we can count football games; we can count chemical reactions performed in experiments or in chemical manufacturing. We cannot count the processes taking place, for instance, in an episode of insect mating behavior.Even where natural units are identifiable, for example cycles in a cyclical process such as the beating of a heart or an organism’s sleep/wake cycle, the processes in question form a sequence with no discontinuities (temporal gaps) of the sort that we find for instance where billiard balls or zebrafish or planets are separated by clear spatial gaps. Lives of organisms are process units, but they too unfold in a continuous series from other, prior processes such as fertilization, and they unfold in turn in continuous series of post-life processes such as post-mortem decay. Clear examples of boundaries of processes are almost always of the fiat sort (midnight, a time of death as declared in an operating theater or on a death certificate, the initiation of a state of war)
has associated axiom(fol): (iff (Process a) (and (Occurrent a) (exists (b) (properTemporalPartOf b a)) (exists (c t) (and (MaterialEntity c) (specificallyDependsOnAt a c t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [083-003]

Axiom
annotated source: process
annotated property: definition
annotated target: p is a process = Def. p is an occurrent that has temporal proper parts and for some time t, p s-depends_on some material entity at t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [083-003])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/083-003

Axiom
annotated source: process
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (iff (Process a) (and (Occurrent a) (exists (b) (properTemporalPartOf b a)) (exists (c t) (and (MaterialEntity c) (specificallyDependsOnAt a c t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [083-003]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/083-003

disposition
type: Class
subclass of: realizable entity
disjoint with: role
BFO OWL specification label: disposition
BFO CLIF specification label: Disposition
example of usage: an atom of element X has the disposition to decay to an atom of element Y
example of usage: certain people have a predisposition to colon cancer
example of usage: children are innately disposed to categorize objects in certain ways.
example of usage: the cell wall is disposed to filter chemicals in endocytosis and exocytosis
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: Dispositions exist along a strength continuum. Weaker forms of disposition are realized in only a fraction of triggering cases. These forms occur in a significant number of cases of a similar type.
elucidation: b is a disposition means: b is a realizable entity & b’s bearer is some material entity & b is such that if it ceases to exist, then its bearer is physically changed, & b’s realization occurs when and because this bearer is in some special physical circumstances, & this realization occurs in virtue of the bearer’s physical make-up. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [062-002])
has associated axiom(nl): If b is a realizable entity then for all t at which b exists, b s-depends_on some material entity at t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [063-002])
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x t) (if (and (RealizableEntity x) (existsAt x t)) (exists (y) (and (MaterialEntity y) (specificallyDepends x y t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [063-002]
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x) (if (Disposition x) (and (RealizableEntity x) (exists (y) (and (MaterialEntity y) (bearerOfAt x y t)))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [062-002]

Axiom
annotated source: disposition
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: b is a disposition means: b is a realizable entity & b’s bearer is some material entity & b is such that if it ceases to exist, then its bearer is physically changed, & b’s realization occurs when and because this bearer is in some special physical circumstances, & this realization occurs in virtue of the bearer’s physical make-up. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [062-002])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/062-002

Axiom
annotated source: disposition
annotated property: has associated axiom(nl)
annotated target: If b is a realizable entity then for all t at which b exists, b s-depends_on some material entity at t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [063-002])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/063-002

Axiom
annotated source: disposition
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x t) (if (and (RealizableEntity x) (existsAt x t)) (exists (y) (and (MaterialEntity y) (specificallyDepends x y t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [063-002]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/063-002

Axiom
annotated source: disposition
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (Disposition x) (and (RealizableEntity x) (exists (y) (and (MaterialEntity y) (bearerOfAt x y t)))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [062-002]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/062-002

realizable entity
type: Class
subclass of: specifically dependent continuant
disjoint with: quality
BFO OWL specification label: realizable
BFO CLIF specification label: RealizableEntity
example of usage: the disposition of this piece of metal to conduct electricity.
example of usage: the disposition of your blood to coagulate
example of usage: the function of your reproductive organs
example of usage: the role of being a doctor
example of usage: the role of this boundary to delineate where Utah and Colorado meet
definition: A specifically dependent continuant that inheres in continuant entities and are not exhibited in full at every time in which it inheres in an entity or group of entities. The exhibition or actualization of a realizable entity is a particular manifestation, functioning or process that occurs under certain circumstances.
elucidation: To say that b is a realizable entity is to say that b is a specifically dependent continuant that inheres in some independent continuant which is not a spatial region and is of a type instances of which are realized in processes of a correlated type. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [058-002])
has associated axiom(nl): All realizable dependent continuants have independent continuants that are not spatial regions as their bearers. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [060-002])
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x t) (if (RealizableEntity x) (exists (y) (and (IndependentContinuant y) (not (SpatialRegion y)) (bearerOfAt y x t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [060-002]
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x) (if (RealizableEntity x) (and (SpecificallyDependentContinuant x) (exists (y) (and (IndependentContinuant y) (not (SpatialRegion y)) (inheresIn x y)))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [058-002]

Axiom
annotated source: realizable entity
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: To say that b is a realizable entity is to say that b is a specifically dependent continuant that inheres in some independent continuant which is not a spatial region and is of a type instances of which are realized in processes of a correlated type. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [058-002])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/058-002

Axiom
annotated source: realizable entity
annotated property: has associated axiom(nl)
annotated target: All realizable dependent continuants have independent continuants that are not spatial regions as their bearers. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [060-002])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/060-002

Axiom
annotated source: realizable entity
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x t) (if (RealizableEntity x) (exists (y) (and (IndependentContinuant y) (not (SpatialRegion y)) (bearerOfAt y x t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [060-002]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/060-002

Axiom
annotated source: realizable entity
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (RealizableEntity x) (and (SpecificallyDependentContinuant x) (exists (y) (and (IndependentContinuant y) (not (SpatialRegion y)) (inheresIn x y)))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [058-002]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/058-002

quality
type: Class
subclass of: specifically dependent continuant
BFO OWL specification label: quality
BFO CLIF specification label: Quality
editor preferred label: quality
example of usage: the ambient temperature of this portion of air
example of usage: the color of a tomato
example of usage: the length of the circumference of your waist
example of usage: the mass of this piece of gold.
example of usage: the shape of your nose
example of usage: the shape of your nostril
imported from: pato.owl
elucidation: a quality is a specifically dependent continuant that, in contrast to roles and dispositions, does not require any further process in order to be realized. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [055-001])
has associated axiom(nl): If an entity is a quality at any time that it exists, then it is a quality at every time that it exists. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [105-001])
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x) (if (Quality x) (SpecificallyDependentContinuant x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [055-001]
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x) (if (exists (t) (and (existsAt x t) (Quality x))) (forall (t_1) (if (existsAt x t_1) (Quality x))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [105-001]

Axiom
annotated source: quality
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: a quality is a specifically dependent continuant that, in contrast to roles and dispositions, does not require any further process in order to be realized. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [055-001])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/055-001

Axiom
annotated source: quality
annotated property: has associated axiom(nl)
annotated target: If an entity is a quality at any time that it exists, then it is a quality at every time that it exists. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [105-001])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/105-001

Axiom
annotated source: quality
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (Quality x) (SpecificallyDependentContinuant x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [055-001]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/055-001

Axiom
annotated source: quality
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (exists (t) (and (existsAt x t) (Quality x))) (forall (t_1) (if (existsAt x t_1) (Quality x))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [105-001]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/105-001

specifically dependent continuant
type: Class
subclass of: continuant
disjoint with: generically dependent continuant
BFO OWL specification label: sdc
BFO CLIF specification label: SpecificallyDependentContinuant
editor preferred label: specifically dependent continuant
example of usage: Reciprocal specifically dependent continuants: the function of this key to open this lock and the mutually dependent disposition of this lock: to be opened by this key
example of usage: of one-sided specifically dependent continuants: the mass of this tomato
example of usage: of relational dependent continuants (multiple bearers): John’s love for Mary, the ownership relation between John and this statue, the relation of authority between John and his subordinates.
example of usage: the disposition of this fish to decay
example of usage: the function of this heart: to pump blood
example of usage: the mutual dependence of proton donors and acceptors in chemical reactions [79
example of usage: the mutual dependence of the role predator and the role prey as played by two organisms in a given interaction
example of usage: the pink color of a medium rare piece of grilled filet mignon at its center
example of usage: the role of being a doctor
example of usage: the shape of this hole.
example of usage: the smell of this portion of mozzarella
definition: A continuant that inheres in or is borne by other entities. Every instance of A requires some specific instance of B which must always be the same.
definition: b is a relational specifically dependent continuant = Def. b is a specifically dependent continuant and there are n > 1 independent continuants c1, … cn which are not spatial regions are such that for all 1 i < j n, ci and cj share no common parts, are such that for each 1 i n, b s-depends_on ci at every time t during the course of b’s existence (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [131-004])
definition: b is a specifically dependent continuant = Def. b is a continuant & there is some independent continuant c which is not a spatial region and which is such that b s-depends_on c at every time t during the course of b’s existence. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [050-003])
editor note: Specifically dependent continuant doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. We're not sure what else will develop here, but for example there are questions such as what are promises, obligation, etc.
imported from: pato.owl
has associated axiom(fol): (iff (RelationalSpecificallyDependentContinuant a) (and (SpecificallyDependentContinuant a) (forall (t) (exists (b c) (and (not (SpatialRegion b)) (not (SpatialRegion c)) (not (= b c)) (not (exists (d) (and (continuantPartOfAt d b t) (continuantPartOfAt d c t)))) (specificallyDependsOnAt a b t) (specificallyDependsOnAt a c t)))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [131-004]
has associated axiom(fol): (iff (SpecificallyDependentContinuant a) (and (Continuant a) (forall (t) (if (existsAt a t) (exists (b) (and (IndependentContinuant b) (not (SpatialRegion b)) (specificallyDependsOnAt a b t))))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [050-003]

Axiom
annotated source: specifically dependent continuant
annotated property: definition
annotated target: b is a relational specifically dependent continuant = Def. b is a specifically dependent continuant and there are n > 1 independent continuants c1, … cn which are not spatial regions are such that for all 1 i < j n, ci and cj share no common parts, are such that for each 1 i n, b s-depends_on ci at every time t during the course of b’s existence (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [131-004])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/131-004

Axiom
annotated source: specifically dependent continuant
annotated property: definition
annotated target: b is a specifically dependent continuant = Def. b is a continuant & there is some independent continuant c which is not a spatial region and which is such that b s-depends_on c at every time t during the course of b’s existence. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [050-003])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/050-003

Axiom
annotated source: specifically dependent continuant
annotated property: editor note
annotated target: Specifically dependent continuant doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. We're not sure what else will develop here, but for example there are questions such as what are promises, obligation, etc.
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/0000005
comment: per discussion with Barry Smith

Axiom
annotated source: specifically dependent continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (iff (RelationalSpecificallyDependentContinuant a) (and (SpecificallyDependentContinuant a) (forall (t) (exists (b c) (and (not (SpatialRegion b)) (not (SpatialRegion c)) (not (= b c)) (not (exists (d) (and (continuantPartOfAt d b t) (continuantPartOfAt d c t)))) (specificallyDependsOnAt a b t) (specificallyDependsOnAt a c t)))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [131-004]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/131-004

Axiom
annotated source: specifically dependent continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (iff (SpecificallyDependentContinuant a) (and (Continuant a) (forall (t) (if (existsAt a t) (exists (b) (and (IndependentContinuant b) (not (SpatialRegion b)) (specificallyDependsOnAt a b t))))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [050-003]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/050-003

role
type: Class
subclass of: realizable entity
BFO OWL specification label: role
BFO CLIF specification label: Role
example of usage: John’s role of husband to Mary is dependent on Mary’s role of wife to John, and both are dependent on the object aggregate comprising John and Mary as member parts joined together through the relational quality of being married.
example of usage: the priest role
example of usage: the role of a boundary to demarcate two neighboring administrative territories
example of usage: the role of a building in serving as a military target
example of usage: the role of a stone in marking a property boundary
example of usage: the role of subject in a clinical trial
example of usage: the student role
definition: A realizable entity the manifestation of which brings about some result or end that is not essential to a continuant in virtue of the kind of thing that it is but that can be served or participated in by that kind of continuant in some kinds of natural, social or institutional contexts.
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: One major family of examples of non-rigid universals involves roles, and ontologies developed for corresponding administrative purposes may consist entirely of representatives of entities of this sort. Thus ‘professor’, defined as follows,b instance_of professor at t =Def. there is some c, c instance_of professor role & c inheres_in b at t.denotes a non-rigid universal and so also do ‘nurse’, ‘student’, ‘colonel’, ‘taxpayer’, and so forth. (These terms are all, in the jargon of philosophy, phase sortals.) By using role terms in definitions, we can create a BFO conformant treatment of such entities drawing on the fact that, while an instance of professor may be simultaneously an instance of trade union member, no instance of the type professor role is also (at any time) an instance of the type trade union member role (any more than any instance of the type color is at any time an instance of the type length).If an ontology of employment positions should be defined in terms of roles following the above pattern, this enables the ontology to do justice to the fact that individuals instantiate the corresponding universals – professor, sergeant, nurse – only during certain phases in their lives.
elucidation: b is a role means: b is a realizable entity & b exists because there is some single bearer that is in some special physical, social, or institutional set of circumstances in which this bearer does not have to be& b is not such that, if it ceases to exist, then the physical make-up of the bearer is thereby changed. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [061-001])
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x) (if (Role x) (RealizableEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [061-001]

Axiom
annotated source: role
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: b is a role means: b is a realizable entity & b exists because there is some single bearer that is in some special physical, social, or institutional set of circumstances in which this bearer does not have to be& b is not such that, if it ceases to exist, then the physical make-up of the bearer is thereby changed. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [061-001])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/061-001

Axiom
annotated source: role
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (Role x) (RealizableEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [061-001]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/061-001

site
type: Class
subclass of: immaterial entity
BFO OWL specification label: site
BFO CLIF specification label: Site
example of usage: Manhattan Canyon)
example of usage: a hole in the interior of a portion of cheese
example of usage: a rabbit hole
example of usage: an air traffic control region defined in the airspace above an airport
example of usage: the Grand Canyon
example of usage: the Piazza San Marco
example of usage: the cockpit of an aircraft
example of usage: the hold of a ship
example of usage: the interior of a kangaroo pouch
example of usage: the interior of the trunk of your car
example of usage: the interior of your bedroom
example of usage: the interior of your office
example of usage: the interior of your refrigerator
example of usage: the lumen of your gut
example of usage: your left nostril (a fiat part – the opening – of your left nasal cavity)
elucidation: b is a site means: b is a three-dimensional immaterial entity that is (partially or wholly) bounded by a material entity or it is a three-dimensional immaterial part thereof. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [034-002])
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x) (if (Site x) (ImmaterialEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [034-002]

Axiom
annotated source: site
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: b is a site means: b is a three-dimensional immaterial entity that is (partially or wholly) bounded by a material entity or it is a three-dimensional immaterial part thereof. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [034-002])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/034-002

Axiom
annotated source: site
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (Site x) (ImmaterialEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [034-002]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/034-002

generically dependent continuant
type: Class
subclass of: continuant
BFO OWL specification label: gdc
BFO CLIF specification label: GenericallyDependentContinuant
example of usage: The entries in your database are patterns instantiated as quality instances in your hard drive. The database itself is an aggregate of such patterns. When you create the database you create a particular instance of the generically dependent continuant type database. Each entry in the database is an instance of the generically dependent continuant type IAO: information content entity.
example of usage: the pdf file on your laptop, the pdf file that is a copy thereof on my laptop
example of usage: the sequence of this protein molecule; the sequence that is a copy thereof in that protein molecule.
definition: A continuant that is dependent on one or other independent continuant bearers. For every instance of A requires some instance of (an independent continuant type) B but which instance of B serves can change from time to time.
definition: b is a generically dependent continuant = Def. b is a continuant that g-depends_on one or more other entities. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [074-001])
has associated axiom(fol): (iff (GenericallyDependentContinuant a) (and (Continuant a) (exists (b t) (genericallyDependsOnAt a b t)))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [074-001]

Axiom
annotated source: generically dependent continuant
annotated property: definition
annotated target: b is a generically dependent continuant = Def. b is a continuant that g-depends_on one or more other entities. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [074-001])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/074-001

Axiom
annotated source: generically dependent continuant
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (iff (GenericallyDependentContinuant a) (and (Continuant a) (exists (b t) (genericallyDependsOnAt a b t)))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [074-001]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/074-001

function
type: Class
subclass of: disposition
BFO OWL specification label: function
BFO CLIF specification label: Function
example of usage: the function of a hammer to drive in nails
example of usage: the function of a heart pacemaker to regulate the beating of a heart through electricity
example of usage: the function of amylase in saliva to break down starch into sugar
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: In the past, we have distinguished two varieties of function, artifactual function and biological function. These are not asserted subtypes of BFO:function however, since the same function – for example: to pump, to transport – can exist both in artifacts and in biological entities. The asserted subtypes of function that would be needed in order to yield a separate monoheirarchy are not artifactual function, biological function, etc., but rather transporting function, pumping function, etc.
elucidation: A function is a disposition that exists in virtue of the bearer’s physical make-up and this physical make-up is something the bearer possesses because it came into being, either through evolution (in the case of natural biological entities) or through intentional design (in the case of artifacts), in order to realize processes of a certain sort. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [064-001])
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x) (if (Function x) (Disposition x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [064-001]

Axiom
annotated source: function
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: A function is a disposition that exists in virtue of the bearer’s physical make-up and this physical make-up is something the bearer possesses because it came into being, either through evolution (in the case of natural biological entities) or through intentional design (in the case of artifacts), in order to realize processes of a certain sort. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [064-001])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/064-001

Axiom
annotated source: function
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (Function x) (Disposition x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [064-001]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/064-001

material entity
type: Class
subclass of: independent continuant
disjoint with: immaterial entity
BFO OWL specification label: material
BFO CLIF specification label: MaterialEntity
editor preferred label: material entity
example of usage: a flame
example of usage: a forest fire
example of usage: a human being
example of usage: a hurricane
example of usage: a photon
example of usage: a puff of smoke
example of usage: a sea wave
example of usage: a tornado
example of usage: an aggregate of human beings.
example of usage: an energy wave
example of usage: an epidemic
example of usage: the undetached arm of a human being
definition: An independent continuant that is spatially extended whose identity is independent of that of other entities and can be maintained through time.
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: Material entities (continuants) can preserve their identity even while gaining and losing material parts. Continuants are contrasted with occurrents, which unfold themselves in successive temporal parts or phases [60
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: Object, Fiat Object Part and Object Aggregate are not intended to be exhaustive of Material Entity. Users are invited to propose new subcategories of Material Entity.
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: ‘Matter’ is intended to encompass both mass and energy (we will address the ontological treatment of portions of energy in a later version of BFO). A portion of matter is anything that includes elementary particles among its proper or improper parts: quarks and leptons, including electrons, as the smallest particles thus far discovered; baryons (including protons and neutrons) at a higher level of granularity; atoms and molecules at still higher levels, forming the cells, organs, organisms and other material entities studied by biologists, the portions of rock studied by geologists, the fossils studied by paleontologists, and so on.Material entities are three-dimensional entities (entities extended in three spatial dimensions), as contrasted with the processes in which they participate, which are four-dimensional entities (entities extended also along the dimension of time).According to the FMA, material entities may have immaterial entities as parts – including the entities identified below as sites; for example the interior (or ‘lumen’) of your small intestine is a part of your body. BFO 2.0 embodies a decision to follow the FMA here.
imported from: cl.owl
imported from: ido.owl
imported from: uberon.owl
elucidation: A material entity is an independent continuant that has some portion of matter as proper or improper continuant part. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [019-002])
has associated axiom(nl): Every entity which has a material entity as continuant part is a material entity. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [020-002])
has associated axiom(nl): every entity of which a material entity is continuant part is also a material entity. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [021-002])
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x) (if (MaterialEntity x) (IndependentContinuant x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [019-002]
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x) (if (and (Entity x) (exists (y t) (and (MaterialEntity y) (continuantPartOfAt x y t)))) (MaterialEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [021-002]
has associated axiom(fol): (forall (x) (if (and (Entity x) (exists (y t) (and (MaterialEntity y) (continuantPartOfAt y x t)))) (MaterialEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [020-002]

Axiom
annotated source: material entity
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: A material entity is an independent continuant that has some portion of matter as proper or improper continuant part. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [019-002])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/019-002

Axiom
annotated source: material entity
annotated property: has associated axiom(nl)
annotated target: Every entity which has a material entity as continuant part is a material entity. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [020-002])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/020-002

Axiom
annotated source: material entity
annotated property: has associated axiom(nl)
annotated target: every entity of which a material entity is continuant part is also a material entity. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [021-002])
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/021-002

Axiom
annotated source: material entity
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (MaterialEntity x) (IndependentContinuant x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [019-002]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/019-002

Axiom
annotated source: material entity
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (and (Entity x) (exists (y t) (and (MaterialEntity y) (continuantPartOfAt x y t)))) (MaterialEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [021-002]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/021-002

Axiom
annotated source: material entity
annotated property: has associated axiom(fol)
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (and (Entity x) (exists (y t) (and (MaterialEntity y) (continuantPartOfAt y x t)))) (MaterialEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [020-002]
has axiom label: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/020-002

immaterial entity
type: Class
subclass of: independent continuant
BFO OWL specification label: immaterial
BFO CLIF specification label: ImmaterialEntity
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: Immaterial entities are divided into two subgroups:boundaries and sites, which bound, or are demarcated in relation, to material entities, and which can thus change location, shape and size and as their material hosts move or change shape or size (for example: your nasal passage; the hold of a ship; the boundary of Wales (which moves with the rotation of the Earth) [38, 7, 10

molecular entity
type: Class
subclass of: material entity
editor preferred label: molecular entity
definition: Any constitutionally or isotopically distinct atom, molecule, ion, ion pair, radical, radical ion, complex, conformer etc., identifiable as a separately distinguishable entity.
editor note: We are assuming that every molecular entity has to be completely connected by chemical bonds. This excludes protein complexes, which are comprised of minimally two separate molecular entities. We will follow up with Chebi to ensure this is their understanding as well
imported from: chebi.owl

cell line cell
type: Class
subclass of: secondary cultured cell
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: derives from
  some values from: primary cultured cell
editor preferred label: cell line cell
editor preferred label: 细胞系细胞 @zh
definition: A cultured cell that is part of a cell line - a stable and homogeneous population of cells with a common biological origin and propagation history in culture
definition: 一个培养细胞，它是一个细胞株（一个稳定的，同质的细胞群，具有共同的生物学起源和增殖史）的一部分
imported from: clo.owl
label: 细胞系细胞 @zh

Axiom
annotated source: cell line cell
annotated property: subClassOf
annotated target: Restriction
  on property: derives from
  some values from: primary cultured cell
editor note: 'derives from' is transitive, so even cell line cells created through modification of an existing cell line cell have derived_from some initial primary cultured cell that existed at some point in time.

cell
type: Class
subclass of: material entity
editor preferred label: cell
example of usage: PMID:18089833.Cancer Res. 2007 Dec 15;67(24):12018-25. "...Epithelial cells were harvested from histologically confirmed adenocarcinomas .."
definition: A material entity of anatomical origin (part of or deriving from an organism) that has as its parts a maximally connected cell compartment surrounded by a plasma membrane.
imported from: cl.owl

primary cultured cell
type: Class
subclass of: cultured cell
editor preferred label: primary cultured cell
definition: A cultured cell that is freshly isolated from a organismal source, or derives in culture from such a cell prior to the culture being passaged.
imported from: cl.owl

cultured cell
type: Class
subclass of: experimentally modified cell in vitro
editor preferred label: cultured cell
definition: A cell in vitro that is or has been maintained or propagated as part of a cell culture.
imported from: cl.owl

experimentally modified cell in vitro
type: Class
subclass of: cell
subclass of: processed material
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is_specified_output_of
  some values from: material processing
editor preferred label: experimentally modified cell in vitro
definition: A cell in vitro that has undergone physical changes as a consequence of a deliberate and specific experimental procedure.
imported from: cl.owl

environmental material
type: Class
subclass of: material entity
editor preferred label: environmental material
definition: A portion of environmental material is a fiat object part which forms the medium or part of the medium of an environmental system.
imported from: envo.owl

geographic location
type: Class
subclass of: site
type: NamedIndividual
definition: A reference to a place on the Earth, by its name or by its geographical location.
imported from: gaz.owl

molecular_function
type: Class
subclass of: process
editor preferred label: molecular_function
definition: A molecular process that can be carried out by the action of a single macromolecular machine, usually via direct physical interactions with other molecular entities. Function in this sense denotes an action, or activity, that a gene product (or a complex) performs. These actions are described from two distinct but related perspectives: (1) biochemical activity, and (2) role as a component in a larger system/process.
imported from: go.owl

cellular_component
type: Class
subclass of: material entity
editor preferred label: cellular_component
definition: A location, relative to cellular compartments and structures, occupied by a macromolecular machine when it carries out a molecular function. There are two ways in which the gene ontology describes locations of gene products: (1) relative to cellular structures (e.g., cytoplasmic side of plasma membrane) or compartments (e.g., mitochondrion), and (2) the stable macromolecular complexes of which they are parts (e.g., the ribosome).
imported from: go.owl

biological_process
type: Class
subclass of: process
disjoint with: planned process
editor preferred label: biological_process
definition: A biological process represents a specific objective that the organism is genetically programmed to achieve. Biological processes are often described by their outcome or ending state, e.g., the biological process of cell division results in the creation of two daughter cells (a divided cell) from a single parent cell. A biological process is accomplished by a particular set of molecular functions carried out by specific gene products (or macromolecular complexes), often in a highly regulated manner and in a particular temporal sequence.
imported from: go.owl

measurement unit label
type: Class
subclass of: datum label
editor preferred label: measurement unit label
example of usage: Examples of measurement unit labels are liters, inches, weight per volume.
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: A measurement unit label is as a label that is part of a scalar measurement datum and denotes a unit of measure.
editor note: 2009-03-16: provenance: a term measurement unit was proposed for OBI (OBI_0000176) , edited by Chris Stoeckert and Cristian Cocos, and subsequently moved to IAO where the objective for which the original term was defined was satisfied with the definition of this, different, term.
editor note: 2009-03-16: review of this term done during during the OBI workshop winter 2009 and the current definition was considered acceptable for use in OBI. If there is a need to modify this definition please notify OBI.
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Courtot

objective specification
type: Class
subclass of: directive information entity
editor preferred label: objective specification
example of usage: In the protocol of a ChIP assay the objective specification says to identify protein and DNA interaction.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A directive information entity that describes an intended process endpoint. When part of a plan specification the concretization is realized in a planned process in which the bearer tries to effect the world so that the process endpoint is achieved.
editor note: 2009-03-16: original definition when imported from OBI read: "objective is an non realizable information entity which can serve as that proper part of a plan towards which the realization of the plan is directed."
editor note: 2014-03-31: In the example of usage ("In the protocol of a ChIP assay the objective specification says to identify protein and DNA interaction") there is a protocol which is the ChIP assay protocol. In addition to being concretized on paper, the protocol can be concretized as a realizable entity, such as a plan that inheres in a person. The objective specification is the part that says that some protein and DNA interactions are identified. This is a specification of a process endpoint: the boundary in the process before which they are not identified and after which they are. During the realization of the plan, the goal is to get to the point of having the interactions, and participants in the realization of the plan try to do that.
editor note: Answers the question, why did you do this experiment?
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Barry Smith
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Jennifer Fostel
alternative term: goal specification
definition source: OBI Plan and Planned Process/Roles Branch
definition source: OBI_0000217

action specification
type: Class
subclass of: directive information entity
example of usage: Pour the contents of flask 1 into flask 2
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A directive information entity that describes an action the bearer will take.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: OBI Plan and Planned Process branch

datum label
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
editor preferred label: datum label
has curation status: metadata incomplete
definition: A label is a symbol that is part of some other datum and is used to either partially define the denotation of that datum or to provide a means for identifying the datum as a member of the set of data with the same label
editor note: http://www.golovchenko.org/cgi-bin/wnsearch#4n
term editor: GROUP: IAO
curator note: 9/22/11 BP: changed the rdfs:label for this class from 'label' to 'datum label' to convey that this class is not intended to cover all kinds of labels (stickers, radiolabels, etc.), and not even all kind of textual labels, but rather the kind of labels occuring in a datum.

information carrier
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: quality
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: concretizes
    some values from: information content entity
subclass of: quality
editor preferred label: information carrier
example of usage: In the case of a printed paperback novel the physicality of the ink and of the paper form part of the information bearer. The qualities of appearing black and having a certain pattern for the ink and appearing white for the paper form part of the information carrier in this case.
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: A quality of an information bearer that imparts the information content
editor note: 12/15/09: There is a concern that some ways that carry information may be processes rather than qualities, such as in a 'delayed wave carrier'.
editor note: 2014-03-10: We are not certain that all information carriers are qualities. There was a discussion of dropping it.
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Smith, Ceusters, Ruttenberg, 2000 years of philosophy

data item
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
editor preferred label: data item
example of usage: Data items include counts of things, analyte concentrations, and statistical summaries.
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: An information content entity that is intended to be a truthful statement about something (modulo, e.g., measurement precision or other systematic errors) and is constructed/acquired by a method which reliably tends to produce (approximately) truthful statements.
editor note: 2/2/2009 Alan and Bjoern discussing FACS run output data. This is a data item because it is about the cell population. Each element records an event and is typically further composed a set of measurment data items that record the fluorescent intensity stimulated by one of the lasers.
editor note: 2009-03-16: data item deliberatly ambiguous: we merged data set and datum to be one entity, not knowing how to define singular versus plural. So data item is more general than datum.
editor note: 2009-03-16: removed datum as alternative term as datum specifically refers to singular form, and is thus not an exact synonym.
editor note: 2014-03-31: See discussion at http://odontomachus.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/aboutness-objects-propositions/
editor note: JAR: datum -- well, this will be very tricky to define, but maybe some information-like stuff that might be put into a computer and that is meant, by someone, to denote and/or to be interpreted by some process... I would include lists, tables, sentences... I think I might defer to Barry, or to Brian Cantwell Smith JAR: A data item is an approximately justified approximately true approximate belief
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Chris Stoeckert
term editor: PERSON: Jonathan Rees
alternative term: data

symbol
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
editor preferred label: symbol
example of usage: a serial number such as "12324X"
example of usage: a stop sign
example of usage: a written proper name such as "OBI"
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: An information content entity that is a mark(s) or character(s) used as a conventional representation of another entity.
editor note: 20091104, MC: this needs work and will most probably change
editor note: 2014-03-31: We would like to have a deeper analysis of 'mark' and 'sign' in the future (see https://github.com/information-artifact-ontology/IAO/issues/154).
term editor: PERSON: James A. Overton
term editor: PERSON: Jonathan Rees
definition source: based on Oxford English Dictionary

information content entity
type: Class
subclass of: generically dependent continuant
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is about
  some values from: entity
editor preferred label: information content entity
example of usage: Examples of information content entites include journal articles, data, graphical layouts, and graphs.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A generically dependent continuant that is about some thing.
editor note: 2014-03-10: The use of "thing" is intended to be general enough to include universals and configurations (see https://groups.google.com/d/msg/information-ontology/GBxvYZCk1oc/-L6B5fSBBTQJ).
editor note: information_content_entity 'is_encoded_in' some digital_entity in obi before split (040907). information_content_entity 'is_encoded_in' some physical_document in obi before split (040907). Previous. An information content entity is a non-realizable information entity that 'is encoded in' some digital or physical entity.
term editor: PERSON: Chris Stoeckert
definition source: OBI_0000142

directive information entity
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is about
  some values from: realizable entity
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An information content entity whose concretizations indicate to their bearer how to realize them in a process.
editor note: 2009-03-16: provenance: a term realizable information entity was proposed for OBI (OBI_0000337) , edited by the PlanAndPlannedProcess branch. Original definition was "is the specification of a process that can be concretized and realized by an actor" with alternative term "instruction".It has been subsequently moved to IAO where the objective for which the original term was defined was satisfied with the definitionof this, different, term.
editor note: 2013-05-30 Alan Ruttenberg: What differentiates a directive information entity from an information concretization is that it can have concretizations that are either qualities or realizable entities. The concretizations that are realizable entities are created when an individual chooses to take up the direction, i.e. has the intention to (try to) realize it.
editor note: 8/6/2009 Alan Ruttenberg: Changed label from "information entity about a realizable" after discussions at ICBO
editor note: Werner pushed back on calling it realizable information entity as it isn't realizable. However this name isn't right either. An example would be a recipe. The realizable entity would be a plan, but the information entity isn't about the plan, it, once concretized, *is* the plan. -Alan
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters

algorithm
type: Class
subclass of: plan specification
editor preferred label: algorithm
example of usage: PMID: 18378114.Genomics. 2008 Mar 28. LINKGEN: A new algorithm to process data in genetic linkage studies.
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: A plan specification which describes the inputs and output of mathematical functions as well as workflow of execution for achieving an predefined objective. Algorithms are realized usually by means of implementation as computer programs for execution by automata.
term editor: Philippe Rocca-Serra
term editor: PlanAndPlannedProcess Branch
definition source: OBI_0000270
definition source: adapted from discussion on OBI list (Matthew Pocock, Christian Cocos, Alan Ruttenberg)

curation status specification
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  one of: example to be eventually removed
  one of: metadata complete
  one of: organizational term
  one of: ready for release
  one of: metadata incomplete
  one of: uncurated
  one of: pending final vetting
  one of: to be replaced with external ontology term
  one of: requires discussion
subclass of: data about an ontology part
editor preferred label: curation status specification
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: The curation status of the term. The allowed values come from an enumerated list of predefined terms. See the specification of these instances for more detailed definitions of each enumerated value.
editor note: Better to represent curation as a process with parts and then relate labels to that process (in IAO meeting)
term editor: PERSON:Bill Bug
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>
definition source: OBI_0000266

data set
type: Class
subclass of: data item
editor preferred label: data set
example of usage: Intensity values in a CEL file or from multiple CEL files comprise a data set (as opposed to the CEL files themselves).
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: A data item that is an aggregate of other data items of the same type that have something in common. Averages and distributions can be determined for data sets.
editor note: 2009/10/23 Alan Ruttenberg. The intention is that this term represent collections of like data. So this isn't for, e.g. the whole contents of a cel file, which includes parameters, metadata etc. This is more like java arrays of a certain rather specific type
editor note: 2014-05-05: Data sets are aggregates and thus must include two or more data items. We have chosen not to add logical axioms to make this restriction.
term editor: person:Allyson Lister
term editor: person:Chris Stoeckert
definition source: OBI_0000042
definition source: group:OBI

data about an ontology part
type: Class
subclass of: data item
editor preferred label: data about an ontology part
definition: Data about an ontology part is a data item about a part of an ontology, for example a term
term editor: Person:Alan Ruttenberg

plan specification
type: Class
subclass of: directive information entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has part
  some values from: objective specification
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has part
  some values from: action specification
editor preferred label: plan specification
example of usage: PMID: 18323827.Nat Med. 2008 Mar;14(3):226.New plan proposed to help resolve conflicting medical advice.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A directive information entity with action specifications and objective specifications as parts that, when concretized, is realized in a process in which the bearer tries to achieve the objectives by taking the actions specified.
editor note: 2009-03-16: provenance: a term a plan was proposed for OBI (OBI_0000344) , edited by the PlanAndPlannedProcess branch. Original definition was " a plan is a specification of a process that is realized by an actor to achieve the objective specified as part of the plan". It has been subsequently moved to IAO where the objective for which the original term was defined was satisfied with the definitionof this, different, term.
editor note: 2014-03-31: A plan specification can have other parts, such as conditional specifications.
editor note: Alternative previous definition: a plan is a set of instructions that specify how an objective should be achieved
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: OBI Plan and Planned Process branch
definition source: OBI_0000344
comment: 2/3/2009 Comment from OBI review. Action specification not well enough specified. Conditional specification not well enough specified. Question whether all plan specifications have objective specifications. Request that IAO either clarify these or change definitions not to use them

measurement datum
type: Class
subclass of: data item
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has value specification
  some values from: value specification
editor preferred label: measurement datum
example of usage: Examples of measurement data are the recoding of the weight of a mouse as {40,mass,"grams"}, the recording of an observation of the behavior of the mouse {,process,"agitated"}, the recording of the expression level of a gene as measured through the process of microarray experiment {3.4,luminosity,}.
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: A measurement datum is an information content entity that is a recording of the output of a measurement such as produced by a device.
editor note: 2/2/2009 is_specified_output of some assay?
term editor: person:Chris Stoeckert
definition source: OBI_0000305
definition source: group:OBI

material information bearer
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: bearer of
    some values from: Restriction
      on property: concretizes
      some values from: information content entity
subclass of: material entity
editor preferred label: material information bearer
example of usage: A page of a paperback novel with writing on it. The paper itself is a material information bearer, the pattern of ink is the information carrier.
example of usage: a brain
example of usage: a hard drive
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A material entity in which a concretization of an information content entity inheres.
term editor: GROUP: IAO

obsolescence reason specification
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  one of: failed exploratory term
  one of: placeholder removed
  one of: terms merged
  one of: term imported
  one of: term split
subclass of: data about an ontology part
editor preferred label: obsolescence reason specification
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: The reason for which a term has been deprecated. The allowed values come from an enumerated list of predefined terms. See the specification of these instances for more detailed definitions of each enumerated value.
editor note: The creation of this class has been inspired in part by Werner Ceusters' paper, Applying evolutionary terminology auditing to the Gene Ontology.
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Courtot

document
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
editor preferred label: document
example of usage: A journal article, patent application, laboratory notebook, or a book
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: A collection of information content entities intended to be understood together as a whole
term editor: PERSON: Lawrence Hunter

denotator type
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  one of: universal
  one of: defined class
  one of: named class expression
subclass of: data about an ontology part
editor preferred label: denotator type
example of usage: The Basic Formal Ontology ontology makes a distinction between Universals and defined classes, where the formal are "natural kinds" and the latter arbitrary collections of entities.
definition: A denotator type indicates how a term should be interpreted from an ontological perspective.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Barry Smith, Werner Ceusters

documenting
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_input
  some values from: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_output
  some values from: document
example of usage: Recording the current temperature in a laboratory notebook. Writing a journal article. Updating a patient record in a database.
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: A planned process in which a document is created or added to by including the specified input in it.
editor note: 6/11/9: Edited at OBI workshop. We need to be able identify a child form of information artifact which corresponds to something enduring (not brain like). This used to be restricted to physical document or digital entity as the output, but that excludes e.g. an audio cassette tape
term editor: Bjoern Peters
definition source: wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Documenting

centrally registered identifier symbol
type: Class
subclass of: symbol
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: part of
  some values from: centrally registered identifier
example of usage: The sentence "The article has Pubmed ID 12345." contains a CRID that has two parts: one part is the CRID symbol, which is '12345'; the other part denotes the CRID registry, which is Pubmed.
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: A symbol that is part of a CRID and that is sufficient to look up a record from the CRID's registry.
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bill Hogan
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Courtot
alternative term: CRID symbol
definition source: Original proposal from Bjoern, discussions at IAO calls

centrally registered identifier
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has part
  some values from: centrally registered identifier symbol
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has part
  some values from: Restriction
    on property: denotes
    some values from: centrally registered identifier registry
example of usage: The sentence "The article has Pubmed ID 12345." contains a CRID that has two parts: one part is the CRID symbol, which is '12345'; the other part denotes the CRID registry, which is Pubmed.
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: An information content entity that consists of a CRID symbol and additional information about the CRID registry to which it belongs.
editor note: 2014-05-05: In defining this term we take no position on what the CRID denotes. In particular do not assume it denotes a *record* in the CRID registry (since the registry might not have 'records').
editor note: Alan, IAO call 20101124: potentially the CRID denotes the instance it was associated with during creation.
editor note: Note, IAO call 20101124: URIs are not always CRID, as not centrally registered. We acknowledge that CRID is a subset of a larger identifier class, but this subset fulfills our current needs. OBI PURLs are CRID as they are registered with OCLC. UPCs (Universal Product Codes from AC Nielsen)are not CRID as they are not centrally registered.
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bill Hogan
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Courtot
alternative term: CRID
definition source: Original proposal from Bjoern, discussions at IAO calls

centrally registered identifier registry
type: Class
subclass of: data set
example of usage: PubMed is a CRID registry. It has a dataset of PubMed identifiers associated with journal articles.
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: A CRID registry is a dataset of CRID records, each consisting of a CRID symbol and additional information which was recorded in the dataset through a assigning a centrally registered identifier process.
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bill Hogan
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Courtot
alternative term: CRID registry
definition source: Original proposal from Bjoern, discussions at IAO calls

Viruses
type: Class
subclass of: organism
editor preferred label: Viruses
imported from: ncbitaxon.owl

Euteleostomi
type: Class
subclass of: Vertebrata <vertebrates>
editor preferred label: Euteleostomi
alternative term: bony vertebrates
imported from: ncbitaxon.owl

Bacteria
type: Class
subclass of: organism
editor preferred label: Bacteria
alternative term: eubacteria
imported from: ncbitaxon.owl

Archaea
type: Class
subclass of: organism
editor preferred label: Archaea
imported from: ncbitaxon.owl

Eukaryota
type: Class
subclass of: organism
editor preferred label: Eukaryota
alternative term: eucaryotes
alternative term: eukaryotes
imported from: ncbitaxon.owl

Euarchontoglires
type: Class
subclass of: Mammalia
editor preferred label: Euarchontoglires
imported from: ncbitaxon.owl

Tetrapoda
type: Class
subclass of: Euteleostomi
editor preferred label: Tetrapoda
alternative term: tetrapods
imported from: ncbitaxon.owl

Amniota
type: Class
subclass of: Tetrapoda
editor preferred label: Amniota
alternative term: amniotes
imported from: ncbitaxon.owl

Opisthokonta
type: Class
subclass of: Eukaryota
editor preferred label: Opisthokonta
imported from: ncbitaxon.owl

Metazoa
type: Class
subclass of: Opisthokonta
editor preferred label: Metazoa
alternative term: metazoans
alternative term: multicellular animals
imported from: ncbitaxon.owl

Bilateria
type: Class
subclass of: Metazoa
editor preferred label: Bilateria
imported from: ncbitaxon.owl

Mammalia
type: Class
subclass of: Amniota
editor preferred label: Mammalia
alternative term: mammals
imported from: ncbitaxon.owl

Vertebrata <vertebrates>
type: Class
subclass of: Bilateria
editor preferred label: Vertebrata <vertebrates>
alternative term: Vertebrata
alternative term: vertebrates
imported from: ncbitaxon.owl

Homo sapiens
type: Class
subclass of: Euarchontoglires
editor preferred label: Homo sapiens
alternative term: human
alternative term: human being
imported from: ncbitaxon.owl

planned process
type: Class
equivalent class: Restriction
  on property: realizes
  some values from: Restriction
    on property: concretizes
    some values from: plan specification
subclass of: process
editor preferred label: planned process
example of usage: Injecting mice with a vaccine in order to test its efficacy
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A process that realizes a plan which is the concretization of a plan specification.
editor note: 'Plan' includes a future direction sense. That can be problematic if plans are changed during their execution. There are however implicit contingencies for protocols that an agent has in his mind that can be considered part of the plan, even if the agent didn't have them in mind before. Therefore, a planned process can diverge from what the agent would have said the plan was before executing it, by adjusting to problems encountered during execution (e.g. choosing another reagent with equivalent properties, if the originally planned one has run out.)
editor note: We are only considering successfully completed planned processes. A plan may be modified, and details added during execution. For a given planned process, the associated realized plan specification is the one encompassing all changes made during execution. This means that all processes in which an agent acts towards achieving some objectives is a planned process.
term editor: Bjoern Peters
definition source: branch derived
curator note: 6/11/9: Edited at workshop. Used to include: is initiated by an agent
curator note: This class merges the previously separated objective driven process and planned process, as they the separation proved hard to maintain. (1/22/09, branch call)
imported from: obi.owl

processed material
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: is_specified_output_of
    some values from: material processing
subclass of: material entity
editor preferred label: processed material
example of usage: Examples include gel matrices, filter paper, parafilm and buffer solutions, mass spectrometer, tissue samples
has curation status: ready for release
definition: Is a material entity that is created or changed during material processing.
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg

investigation
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has part
  some values from: documenting
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has part
  some values from: drawing a conclusion based on data
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has part
  some values from: study design execution
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has part
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: planning
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: has_specified_output
      some values from: study design
editor preferred label: investigation
example of usage: Lung cancer investigation using expression profiling, a stem cell transplant investigation, biobanking is not an investigation, though it may be part of an investigation
has curation status: ready for release
definition: a planned process that consists of parts: planning, study design execution, documentation and which produce conclusion(s).
term editor: Bjoern Peters
definition source: OBI branch derived
curator note: Could add specific objective specification
curator note: Following OBI call November 2012,26th: it was decided there was no need for adding "achieves objective of drawing conclusion" as existing relations were providing equivalent ability. this note closes the issue and validates the class definition to be part of the OBI core editor = PRS
imported from: obi.owl
ISA alternative term: study

evaluant role
type: Class
subclass of: role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: inheres in
  some values from: material entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: realized in
  all values from: assay
editor preferred label: evaluant role
example of usage: When a specimen of blood is assayed for glucose concentration, the blood has the evaluant role. When measuring the mass of a mouse, the evaluant is the mouse. When measuring the time of DNA replication, the evaluant is the DNA. When measuring the intensity of light on a surface, the evaluant is the light source.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: a role that inheres in a material entity that is realized in an assay in which data is generated about the bearer of the evaluant role
editor note: Role call - 17nov-08: JF and MC think an evaluant role is always specified input of a process. Even in the case where we have an assay taking blood as evaluant and outputting blood, the blood is not the specified output at the end of the assay (the concentration of glucose in the blood is)
editor note: examples of features that could be described in an evaluant: quality.... e.g. "contains 10 pg/ml IL2", or "no glucose detected")
term editor: GROUP: Role Branch
definition source: OBI
curator note: Feb 10, 2009. changes after discussion at OBI Consortium Workshop Feb 2-6, 2009. accepted as core term.

assay
type: Class
equivalent class: Restriction
  on property: achieves_planned_objective
  some values from: assay objective
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: realizes
  some values from: evaluant role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_input
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: material entity
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: has role
      some values from: evaluant role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_output
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: data item
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: is about
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: material entity
        intersection of: Restriction
disjoint with: planning
disjoint with: data transformation
disjoint with: information acquisition
editor preferred label: assay
example of usage: Assay the wavelength of light emitted by excited Neon atoms. Count of geese flying over a house.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A planned process with the objective to produce information about the material entity that is the evaluant, by physically examining it or its proxies.
editor note: 12/3/12: BP: the reference to the 'physical examination' is included to point out that a prediction is not an assay, as that does not require physical examiniation.
term editor: PlanAndPlannedProcess Branch
alternative term: measuring
alternative term: scientific observation
definition source: OBI branch derived
ISA alternative term: study assay
IEDB alternative term: any method

reagent role
type: Class
subclass of: role
editor preferred label: reagent role
example of usage: Buffer, dye, a catalyst, a solvating agent.
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: A role inhering in a biological or chemical entity that is intended to be applied in a scientific technique to participate (or have molecular components that participate) in a chemical reaction that facilitates the generation of data about some entity distinct from the bearer, or the generation of some specified material output distinct from the bearer.
term editor: PERSON:Matthew Brush
alternative term: reagent
definition source: PERSON:Matthew Brush
curator note: Feb 10, 2009. changes after discussion at OBI Consortium Workshop Feb 2-6, 2009. accepted as core term. May 28 2013. Updated definition taken from ReO based on discussions initiated in Philly 2011 workshop. Former defnition described a narrower view of reagents in chemistry that restricts bearers of the role to be chemical entities ("a role played by a molecular entity used to produce a chemical reaction to detect, measure, or produce other substances"). Updated definition allows for broader view of reagents in the domain of biomedical research to include larger materials that have parts that participate chemically in a molecular reaction or interaction.
comment: (copied from ReO) Reagents are distinguished from instruments or devices that also participate in scientific techniques by the fact that reagents are chemical or biological in nature and necessarily participate in or have parts that participate in some chemical interaction or reaction during their intended participation in some technique. By contrast, instruments do not participate in a chemical reaction/interaction during the technique. Reagents are distinguished from study subjects/evaluants in that study subjects and evaluants are that about which conclusions are drawn and knowledge is sought in an investigation - while reagents, by definition, are not. It should be noted, however, that reagent and study subject/evaluant roles can be borne by instances of the same type of material entity - but a given instance will realize only one of these roles in the execution of a given assay or technique. For example, taq polymerase can bear a reagent role or an evaluant role. In a DNA sequencing assay aimed at generating sequence data about some plasmid, the reagent role of the taq polymerase is realized. In an assay to evaluate the quality of the taq polymerase itself, the evaluant/study subject role of the taq is realized, but not the reagent role since the taq is the subject about which data is generated. In regard to the statement that reagents are 'distinct' from the specified outputs of a technique, note that a reagent may be incorporated into a material output of a technique, as long as the IDENTITY of this output is distinct from that of the bearer of the reagent role. For example, dNTPs input into a PCR are reagents that become part of the material output of this technique, but this output has a new identity (ie that of a 'nucleic acid molecule') that is distinct from the identity of the dNTPs that comprise it. Similarly, a biotin molecule input into a cell labeling technique are reagents that become part of the specified output, but the identity of the output is t…

material processing
type: Class
equivalent class: Restriction
  on property: achieves_planned_objective
  some values from: material transformation objective
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_output
  some values from: processed material
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_input
  all values from: material entity
disjoint with: material acquisition
editor preferred label: material processing
example of usage: A cell lysis, production of a cloning vector, creating a buffer.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A planned process which results in physical changes in a specified input material
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Frank Gibson
term editor: PERSON: Jennifer Fostel
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Courtot
term editor: PERSON: Philippe Rocca Serra
alternative term: material transformation
definition source: OBI branch derived

participant under investigation role
type: Class
subclass of: role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: realized in
  all values from: study design execution
editor preferred label: study subject role
example of usage: Human subjects in a clinical trial, rats in a toxicogenomics study, tissue cutlures subjected to drug tests, fish observed in an ecotoxicology study. Parasite example: people are infected with a parasite which is then extracted; the particpant under investigation could be the parasite, the people, or a population of which the people are members, depending on the nature of the study. Lake example: a lake could realize this role in an investigation that assays pollution levels in samples of water taken from the lake.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A role that is realized through the execution of a study design in which the bearer of the role participates and in which data about that bearer is collected.
editor note: A participant can realize both "specimen role" and "participant under investigation role" at the same time. However "participant under investigation role" is distinct from "specimen role", since a specimen could somehow be involved in an investigation without being the thing that is under investigation.
term editor: GROUP: Role Branch
definition source: OBI
curator note: Following OBI call November 2012,26th: 1. it was decided there was no need for moving the children class and making them siblings of study subject role. 2. it also settles the disambiguation about 'study subject'. This is about the individual participating in the investigation/study, Not the 'topic' (as in 'toxicity study') of the investigation/study This note closes the issue and validates the class definition to be part of the OBI core editor = PRS

specimen role
type: Class
subclass of: role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: inheres in
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: material entity
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: is_specified_output_of
      some values from: specimen collection process
editor preferred label: specimen role
example of usage: liver section; a portion of a culture of cells; a nemotode or other animal once no longer a subject (generally killed); portion of blood from a patient.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: a role borne by a material entity that is gained during a specimen collection process and that can be realized by use of the specimen in an investigation
editor note: 22Jun09. The definition includes whole organisms, and can include a human. The link between specimen role and study subject role has been removed. A specimen taken as part of a case study is not considered to be a population representative, while a specimen taken as representing a population, e.g. person taken from a cohort, blood specimen taken from an animal) would be considered a population representative and would also bear material sample role.
editor note: Note: definition is in specimen creation objective which is defined as an objective to obtain and store a material entity for potential use as an input during an investigation.
editor note: blood taken from animal: animal continues in study, whereas blood has role specimen. something taken from study subject, leaves the study and becomes the specimen.
editor note: parasite example - when parasite in people we study people, people are subjects and parasites are specimen - when parasite extracted, they become subject in the following study specimen can later be subject.
term editor: GROUP: Role Branch
definition source: OBI
IAO_0000233: https://github.com/obi-ontology/obi/issues/1013

population
type: Class
subclass of: material entity
editor preferred label: population
example of usage: PMID12564891. Environ Sci Technol. 2003 Jan 15;37(2):223-8. Effects of historic PCB exposures on the reproductive success of the Hudson River striped bass population.
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: a population is a collection of individuals from the same taxonomic class living, counted or sampled at a particular site or in a particular area
editor note: 1/28/2013, BP, on the call it was raised that we may want to switch to an external ontology for all populatin terms: http://code.google.com/p/popcomm-ontology/
term editor: PERSON: Philippe Rocca-Serra
definition source: adapted from Oxford English Dictionnary
curator note: rem1: collection somehow always involve a selection process

investigation agent role
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: role
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: inheres in
    some values from: Restriction
      on property: bearer of
      some values from: Restriction
        on property: concretizes
        some values from: Restriction
subclass of: role
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: realized in
  all values from: investigation
editor preferred label: investigation agent role
example of usage: The person perform microarray experiments and submit microarray results (including raw data, processed data) with experiment description to ArrayExpress.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A role borne by an entity and that is realized in a process that is part of an investigation in which an objective is achieved. These processes include, among others: planning, overseeing, funding, reviewing.
editor note: Implementing a study means carrying out or performing the study and providing reagents or other materials used in the study and other tasks without which the study would not happen.
editor note: Philly2013: Historically, this role would have been borne only by humans or organizations. However, we now also want to enable representing investigations run by robot scientists such as ADAM (King et al, Science, 2009)
term editor: GROUP: Role Branch
alternative term: investigator
definition source: OBI
curator note: Feb 10, 2009. changes after discussion at OBI Consortium Workshop Feb 2-6, 2009. accepted as core term.
ISA alternative term: study person role
comment: Philly2013: Historically, this role would have been borne only by humans or organizations. However, we now also want to enable investigations run by robot scientists such as ADAM (King et al, Science, 2009)

organization
type: Class
subclass of: material entity
editor preferred label: organization
example of usage: PMID: 16353909.AAPS J. 2005 Sep 22;7(2):E274-80. Review. The joint food and agriculture organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives and its role in the evaluation of the safety of veterinary drug residues in foods.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An entity that can bear roles, has members, and has a set of organization rules. Members of organizations are either organizations themselves or individual people. Members can bear specific organization member roles that are determined in the organization rules. The organization rules also determine how decisions are made on behalf of the organization by the organization members.
editor note: BP: The definition summarizes long email discussions on the OBI developer, roles, biomaterial and denrie branches. It leaves open if an organization is a material entity or a dependent continuant, as no consensus was reached on that. The current placement as material is therefore temporary, in order to move forward with development. Here is the entire email summary, on which the definition is based: 1) there are organization_member_roles (president, treasurer, branch editor), with individual persons as bearers 2) there are organization_roles (employer, owner, vendor, patent holder) 3) an organization has a charter / rules / bylaws, which specify what roles there are, how they should be realized, and how to modify the charter/rules/bylaws themselves. It is debatable what the organization itself is (some kind of dependent continuant or an aggregate of people). This also determines who/what the bearer of organization_roles' are. My personal favorite is still to define organization as a kind of 'legal entity', but thinking it through leads to all kinds of questions that are clearly outside the scope of OBI. Interestingly enough, it does not seem to matter much where we place organization itself, as long as we can subclass it (University, Corporation, Government Agency, Hospital), instantiate it (Affymetrix, NCBI, NIH, ISO, W3C, University of Oklahoma), and have it play roles. This leads to my proposal: We define organization through the statements 1 - 3 above, but without an 'is a' statement for now. We can leave it in its current place in the is_a hierarchy (material entity) or move it up to 'continuant'. We leave further clarifications to BFO, and close this issue for now.
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Philippe Rocca-Serra
term editor: PERSON: Susanna Sansone
definition source: GROUP: OBI

protocol
type: Class
subclass of: plan specification
editor preferred label: protocol
example of usage: PCR protocol, has objective specification, amplify DNA fragment of interest, and has action specification describes the amounts of experimental reagents used (e..g. buffers, dNTPS, enzyme), and the temperature and cycle time settings for running the PCR.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A plan specification which has sufficient level of detail and quantitative information to communicate it between investigation agents, so that different investigation agents will reliably be able to independently reproduce the process.
term editor: PlanAndPlannedProcess Branch
definition source: OBI branch derived + wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protocol_%28natural_sciences%29)
ISA alternative term: study protocol

drawing a conclusion based on data
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_input
  some values from: data item
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_output
  some values from: conclusion based on data
editor preferred label: interpreting data
example of usage: Concluding that a gene is upregulated in a tissue sample based on the band intensity in a western blot. Concluding that a patient has a infection based on measurement of an elevated body temperature and reported headache. Concluding that there were problems in an investigation because data from PCR and microarray are conflicting. Concluding that 'defects in gene XYZ cause cancer due to improper DNA repair' based on data from experiments in that study that gene XYZ is involved in DNA repair, and the conclusion of a previous study that cancer patients have an increased number of mutations in this gene.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A planned process in which data gathered in an investigation is evaluated in the context of existing knowledge with the objective to generate more general conclusions or to conclude that the data does not allow one to draw general conclusion
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Jennifer Fostel
definition source: Bjoern Peters

planning
type: Class
subclass of: process
subclass of: Class
  intersection of: process
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has participant
    some values from: plan specification
editor preferred label: planning
example of usage: The process of a scientist thinking about and deciding what reagents to use as part of a protocol for an experiment. Note that the scientist could be human or a "robot scientist" executing software.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: a process of creating or modifying a plan specification
editor note: 7/18/2011 BP: planning used to itself be a planned process. Barry Smith pointed out that this would lead to an infinite regression, as there would have to be a plan to conduct a planning process, which in itself would be the result of planning etc. Therefore, the restrictions on 'planning' were loosened to allow for informal processes that result in an 'ad hoc plan '. This required changing from 'has_specified_output some plan specifiction' to 'has_participant some plan specification'.
term editor: Bjoern Peters
definition source: Bjoern Peters
definition source: Plans and Planned Processes Branch

analyte measurement objective
type: Class
subclass of: assay objective
editor preferred label: analyte measurement objective
example of usage: The objective to measure the concentration of glucose in a blood sample
has curation status: ready for release
definition: an assay objective to determine the presence or concentration of an analyte in the evaluant
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
definition source: PPPB branch

assay objective
type: Class
subclass of: objective specification
editor preferred label: assay objective
example of usage: the objective to determine the weight of a mouse.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: an objective specification to determine a specified type of information about an evaluated entity (the material entity bearing evaluant role)
term editor: PPPB branch
definition source: PPPB branch

analyte assay
type: Class
subclass of: assay
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_output
  some values from: measurement datum
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: achieves_planned_objective
  some values from: analyte measurement objective
editor preferred label: analyte assay
example of usage: example of usage: In lab test for blood glucose, the test is the assay, the blood bears evaluant_role and glucose bears the analyte role. The evaluant is considered an input to the assay and the information entity that records the measurement of glucose concentration the output
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An assay with the objective to capture information about the presence, concentration, or amount of an analyte in an evaluant.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: Bjoern Peters
term editor: Helen Parkinson
term editor: Philippe Rocca-Serra
definition source: Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Bjoern Peters
definition source: Helen Parkinson
definition source: OBI Planned process branch
definition source: Philippe Rocca-Serra

measure function
type: Class
subclass of: function
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: function of
  some values from: processed material
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: realized in
  all values from: Restriction
    on property: has_specified_output
    some values from: measurement datum
editor preferred label: measure function
example of usage: A glucometer measures blood glucose concentration, the glucometer has a measure function.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: Measure function is a function that is borne by a processed material and realized in a process in which information about some entity is expressed relative to some reference.
term editor: PERSON: Daniel Schober
term editor: PERSON: Helen Parkinson
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Courtot
term editor: PERSON:Frank Gibson

material transformation objective
type: Class
subclass of: objective specification
editor preferred label: material transformation objective
example of usage: The objective to create a mouse infected with LCM virus. The objective to create a defined solution of PBS.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: an objective specifiction that creates an specific output object from input materials.
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Frank Gibson
term editor: PERSON: Jennifer Fostel
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Courtot
term editor: PERSON: Philippe Rocca-Serra
alternative term: artifact creation objective
definition source: GROUP: OBI PlanAndPlannedProcess Branch

study design execution
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: planned process
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: realizes
    some values from: Restriction
      on property: concretizes
      some values from: study design
subclass of: planned process
editor preferred label: study design execution
example of usage: injecting a mouse with PBS solution, weighing it, and recording the weight according to a study design.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: a planned process that carries out a study design
editor note: removed axiom has_part some (assay or 'data transformation') per discussion on protocol application mailing list to improve reasoner performance. The axiom is still desired.
definition source: branch derived
curator note: 6/11/9: edited at workshop. Used to be: study design execution is a process with the objective to generate data according to a concretized study design. The execution of a study design is part of an investigation, and minimally consists of an assay or data transformation.
imported from: obi.owl

specimen collection process
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: planned process
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: achieves_planned_objective
    some values from: specimen collection objective
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_input
  some values from: material entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_output
  some values from: specimen
editor preferred label: specimen collection process
example of usage: drawing blood from a patient for analysis, collecting a piece of a plant for depositing in a herbarium, buying meat from a butcher in order to measure its protein content in an investigation
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A planned process with the objective of collecting a specimen.
editor note: Note: definition is in specimen creation objective which is defined as an objective to obtain and store a material entity for potential use as an input during an investigation.
editor note: Philly2013: A specimen collection can have as part a material entity acquisition, such as ordering from a bank. The distinction is that specimen collection necessarily involves the creation of a specimen role. However ordering cell lines cells from ATCC for use in an investigation is NOT a specimen collection, because the cell lines already have a specimen role.
editor note: Philly2013: The specimen_role for the specimen is created during the specimen collection process.
editor note: label changed to 'specimen collection process' on 10/27/2014, details see tracker: http://sourceforge.net/p/obi/obi-terms/716/
term editor: Bjoern Peters
alternative term: specimen collection
curator note: 5/31/2012: This process is not necessarily an acquisition, as specimens may be collected from materials already in posession
curator note: 6/9/09: used at workshop

specimen collection objective
type: Class
subclass of: objective specification
editor preferred label: specimen collection objective
example of usage: The objective to collect bits of excrement in the rainforest. The objective to obtain a blood sample from a patient.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A objective specification to obtain a material entity for potential use as an input during an investigation.
term editor: Bjoern Peters
definition source: Bjoern Peters

study design independent variable
type: Class
subclass of: directive information entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: part of
  some values from: study design
editor preferred label: independent variable specification
example of usage: In a study in which gene expression is measured in patients between 8 month to 4 years old that have mild or severe malaria and in which the hypothesis is that gene expression in that age group is a function of disease status, disease status is the independent variable.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: a directive information entity that is part of a study design. Independent variables are entities whose values are selected to determine its relationship to an observed phenomenon (the dependent variable). In such an experiment, an attempt is made to find evidence that the values of the independent variable determine the values of the dependent variable (that which is being measured). The independent variable can be changed as required, and its values do not represent a problem requiring explanation in an analysis, but are taken simply as given. The dependent variable on the other hand, usually cannot be directly controlled
editor note: 2/2/2009 Original definition - In the design of experiments, independent variables are those whose values are controlled or selected by the person experimenting (experimenter) to determine its relationship to an observed phenomenon (the dependent variable). In such an experiment, an attempt is made to find evidence that the values of the independent variable determine the values of the dependent variable (that which is being measured). The independent variable can be changed as required, and its values do not represent a problem requiring explanation in an analysis, but are taken simply as given. The dependent variable on the other hand, usually cannot be directly controlled.
editor note: In the Philly 2013 workshop the label was chosen to distinguish it from "dependent variable" as used in statistical modelling. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistical_modeling
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Chris Stoeckert
alternative term: experimental factor
alternative term: independent variable
definition source: Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_and_independent_variables
curator note: 2009-03-16: work has been done on this term during during the OBI workshop winter 2009 and the current definition was considered acceptable for use in OBI. If there is a need to modify thisdefinition please notify OBI.
ISA alternative term: study factor

study design dependent variable
type: Class
subclass of: directive information entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: part of
  some values from: study design
editor preferred label: dependent variable specification
example of usage: In a study in which gene expression is measured in patients between 8 month to 4 years old that have mild or severe malaria and in which the hypothesis is that gene expression in that age group is a function of disease status, the gene expression is the dependent variable.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: dependent variable specification is part of a study design. The dependent variable is the event studied and expected to change when the independent variable varies.
editor note: 2/2/2009 In the design of experiments, independent variables are those whose values are controlled or selected by the person experimenting (experimenter) to determine its relationship to an observed phenomenon (the dependent variable). In such an experiment, an attempt is made to find evidence that the values of the independent variable determine the values of the dependent variable (that which is being measured). The independent variable can be changed as required, and its values do not represent a problem requiring explanation in an analysis, but are taken simply as given. The dependent variable on the other hand, usually cannot be directly controlled.
editor note: In the Philly 2013 workshop the label was chosen to distinguish it from "dependent variable" as used in statistical modelling. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistical_modeling
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Chris Stoeckert
alternative term: dependent variable
definition source: WEB: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_and_independent_variables
curator note: 2009-03-16: work has been done on this term during during the OBI workshop winter 2009 and the current definition was considered acceptable for use in OBI. If there is a need to modify thisdefinition please notify OBI.

study design controlled variable
type: Class
subclass of: directive information entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: part of
  some values from: study design
editor preferred label: controlled variable specification
example of usage: In a study in which gene expression is measured in patients between 8 month to 4 years old that have mild or severe malaria and in which the hypothesis is that gene expression in that age group is a function of disease status, age is a controlled variable.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: Controlled variable specification is a part of a study design. They are the entities that could vary, but are kept constant to prevent their influence on the effect of the independent variable on the dependent.
editor note: 2/2/2009 Original definition: Controlled variables are also important to identify in experiments. They are the variables that are kept constant to prevent their influence on the effect of the independent variable on the dependent. Every experiment has a controlling variable, and it is necessary to not change it, or the results of the experiment won't be valid
editor note: In the Philly 2013 workshop the label was chosen to distinguish it from "controlled variable" as used in statistical modelling
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Chris Stoeckert
alternative term: controlled variable
definition source: WEB: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_variable
curator note: 2009-03-16: work has been done on this term during during the OBI workshop winter 2009 and the current definition was considered acceptable for use in OBI. If there is a need to modify thisdefinition please notify OBI.

informed consent process
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_input
  some values from: Homo sapiens
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has participant
  some values from: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: investigation agent role
editor preferred label: informed consent process
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A planned process in which a person or their legal representative is informed about key facts about potential risks and benefits of a process and makes a documented decision as to whether the person in question will participate.
editor note: 09/28/2009 Alan Ruttenberg: This is made a subclass of the higher level processual entity in BFO because I don't want to take a stand on whether it is a process aggregate. Analogous to the situation with Material entity.
term editor: Person:Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/info/glossary#informed
curator note: 2009/09/28 Alan Ruttenberg. Fucoidan-use-case

measurement device
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: device
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has function
    some values from: measure function
subclass of: device
editor preferred label: measurement device
example of usage: A ruler, a microarray scanner, a Geiger counter.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A device in which a measure function inheres.
term editor: GROUP:OBI Philly workshop
definition source: OBI

processed specimen
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: processed material
  intersection of: specimen
subclass of: processed material
subclass of: specimen
editor preferred label: processed specimen
example of usage: A tissue sample that has been sliced and stained for a histology study. A blood specimen that has been centrifuged to obtain the white blood cells.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A specimen that has been intentionally physically modified.
term editor: Bjoern Peters
definition source: Bjoern Peters
comment: A tissue sample that has been sliced and stained for a histology study.

device
type: Class
subclass of: processed material
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is_specified_output_of
  some values from: material processing
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has function
  some values from: function
disjoint with: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: reagent role
editor preferred label: device
example of usage: A voltmeter is a measurement device which is intended to perform some measure function.
example of usage: An autoclave is a device that sterlizes instruments or contaminated waste by applying high temperature and pressure.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A material entity that is designed to perform a function in a scientific investigation, but is not a reagent.
editor note: 2012-12-17 JAO: In common lab usage, there is a distinction made between devices and reagents that is difficult to model. Therefore we have chosen to specifically exclude reagents from the definition of "device", and are enumerating the types of roles that a reagent can perform. 2013-6-5 MHB: The following clarifications are outcomes of the May 2013 Philly Workshop. Reagents are distinguished from devices that also participate in scientific techniques by the fact that reagents are chemical or biological in nature and necessarily participate in some chemical interaction or reaction during the realization of their experimental role. By contrast, devices do not participate in such chemical reactions/interactions. Note that there are cases where devices use reagent components during their operation, where the reagent-device distinction is less clear. For example: (1) An HPLC machine is considered a device, but has a column that holds a stationary phase resin as an operational component. This resin qualifies as a device if it participates purely in size exclusion, but bears a reagent role that is realized in the running of a column if it interacts electrostatically or chemically with the evaluant. The container the resin is in (“the column”) considered alone is a device. So the entire column as well as the entire HPLC machine are devices that have a reagent as an operating part. (2) A pH meter is a device, but its electrode component bears a reagent role in virtue of its interacting directly with the evaluant in execution of an assay. (3) A gel running box is a device that has a metallic lead as a component that participates in a chemical reaction with the running buffer when a charge is passed through it. This metallic lead is considered to have a reagent role as a component of this device realized in the running of a gel. In the examples above, a reagent is an operational component of a device, but the device itself does not realize a reagent role (as bearing a reagent…
term editor: PERSON: Helen Parkinson
alternative term: instrument
definition source: OBI development call 2012-12-17.

selection criterion
type: Class
subclass of: directive information entity
editor preferred label: selection criterion
example of usage: rats should be aged between 6 and 8 weeks and weight between 180-250grams
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A directive information entity which defines and states a principle of standard by which selection process may take place.
term editor: Person: Philippe Rocca-Serra
alternative term: selection rule
definition source: OBI discussion summarized under the following tracker item : http://sourceforge.net/p/obi/obi-terms/678/

secondary cultured cell
type: Class
subclass of: cultured cell
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: derives from
  some values from: primary cultured cell
editor preferred label: secondary cultured cell
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: A cultured cell that has been passaged or derives from a cell that has been passaged in culture.
editor note: The term 'secondary cell culture' is generally used in biological texts/protocols to refer to any culture following an initial passage. We include it here because there are often a number of passages between a primary culture and the establishment of a stable, homogenous cell line. Such cultures are considered to be 'secondary cultures' but not 'cell lines' during this intermediate passaging/selection period between their derivation from a 'primary cell culture' and derivation into a 'cell line', which is a more specific type of secondary culture.
term editor: Person: Matthew Brush
definition source: PERSON: Matthew Brush
comment: A secondary cultured cell has been passaged in culture or is a descendant of such a cell that is derived through propagation in culture.

reagent
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: reagent role
subclass of: processed material
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is_specified_output_of
  some values from: material processing
editor preferred label: reagent
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: A biological or chemical entity that bears a reagent role in virtue of it being intended for application in a scientific technique to participate in (or have molecular parts that participate in) a chemical reaction that facilitates the generation of data about some distinct entity, or the generation of some distinct material specified output.
editor note: 2013-6-5 MHB: Clarifications regarding the distinction between reagetns and devices were made at the May 2013 Philly Workshop. Reagents are distinguished from devices that also participate in scientific techniques by the fact that reagents are chemical or biological in nature and necessarily participate in some chemical interaction or reaction during the realization of their experimental role. By contrast, devices do not participate in such chemical reactions/interactions. Note that there are cases where devices use reagent components during their operation, where the reagent-device distinction is less clear. For examples, see editor note on OBI:device.
term editor: PERSON:Matthew Brush
definition source: PERSON:Matthew Brush
comment: (copied from ReO) Reagents are distinguished from devices/instruments that also serve as facilitators in scientific techniques by the fact that reagents are chemical or biological in nature and necessarily participate in or have parts that participate in some chemical interaction or reaction during their intended participation in some technique. By contrast, devices do not participate in a chemical reaction/interaction during the technique. Reagents are distinguished from study subjects/evaluants in that study subjects and evaluants are that about which conclusions are drawn and knowledge is sought in an investigation - while reagents, by definition, are not. It should be noted, however, that reagent and study subject/evaluant roles can be borne by instances of the same type of material entity - but a given instance can only realize one of these roles in the execution of a given assay. For example, taq polymerase can bear a reagent role or an evaluant role. In a DNA sequencing assay aimed at generating sequence data about some plasmid, the reagent role of the taq polymerase is realized. In an assay to evaluate the quality of the taq polymerase itself, the evaluant/study subject role of the taq is realized, but not the reagent role since the taq is the subject about which data is generated. In regard to the statement that reagents are 'distinct' from the specified outputs of a technique: note that a reagent may be incorporated into a material output of a technique, as long as the IDENTITY of this output is distinct from that of the bearer of the reagent role. For example, dNTPs input into a PCR are reagents that become part of the material output of this technique, but this output has a new identity (ie that of a 'nucleic acid molecule') that is distinct from the identity of the dNTPs that comprise it. Similarly, a biotin molecule input into a cell labeling technique are reagents that become part of the specified output, but the identity of the output is that of some…

testable hypothesis
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
editor preferred label: testable hypothesis
example of usage: that fucoidan has a small statistically significant effect on AT3 level but no useful clinical effect as in-vivo anticoagulant, a paraphrase of part of the last paragraph of the discussion section of the paper 'Pilot clinical study to evaluate the anticoagulant activity of fucoidan', by Lowenthal et. al.PMID:19696660
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An information content entity that expresses an assertion that is intended to be tested.
editor note: In the Philly 2013 workshop, we recognized the limitations of "hypothesis textual entity", and we introduced this as more general. The need for the 'textual entity' term going forward is up for future debate.
term editor: Group:2013 Philly Workshop group
alternative term: hypothesis
definition source: Group:2013 Philly Workshop group

conclusion based on data
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is_supported_by_data
  some values from: data item
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is_specified_output_of
  some values from: drawing a conclusion based on data
editor preferred label: conclusion based on data
example of usage: The conclusion that a gene is upregulated in a tissue sample based on the band intensity in a western blot. The conclusion that a patient has a infection based on measurement of an elevated body temperature and reported headache. The conclusion that there were problems in an investigation because data from PCR and microarray are conflicting. The following are NOT conclusions based on data: data themselves; results from pure mathematics, e.g. "13 is prime".
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An information content entity that is inferred from data.
editor note: In the Philly 2013 workshop, we recognized the limitations of "conclusion textual entity", and we introduced this as more general. The need for the 'textual entity' term going forward is up for future debate.
term editor: Group:2013 Philly Workshop group
definition source: Group:2013 Philly Workshop group

selection
type: Class
equivalent class: Restriction
  on property: realizes
  some values from: Restriction
    on property: concretizes
    some values from: selection criterion
subclass of: planned process
editor preferred label: selection
example of usage: PMID: 24023800. In this study, a set of eleven genes (VATP16, 60 S, UQCC, SMD3, EF1α, UBQ, SAND, GAPDH, ACT, PsaB, PTB2) was evaluated to identify reference genes during the first hours of interaction (6, 12, 18 and 24 hpi) between two V. vinifera genotypes and P. viticola. Two analyses were used for the selection of reference genes: direct comparison of susceptible, Trincadeira, and resistant, Regent, V. vinifera cultivars at 0 h, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours post inoculation with P. viticola (genotype effect); and comparison of each genotype with mock inoculated samples during inoculation time-course (biotic stress effect). Three statistical methods were used, GeNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper, allowing to identify UBQ, EF1α and GAPDH as the most stable genes for the genotype effect.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A planned process which results in the creation of group of entity from a larger group by the application of predefined criteria.
editor note: this term refers to a planned process and therefore is distinct from the notion of 'natural selection', a process covering the operation of natural causes by which those individuals of a species that are best adapted to the environment tend to be preserved and to transmit their characters, while those less adapted die out, so that in the course of generations the degree of adaptation to the environment tends progressively to increase. (as defined by Oxford English Dictionary)
term editor: Person: Philippe Rocca-Serra
alternative term: selection process
definition source: OBI

value specification
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
editor preferred label: value specification
example of usage: The value of 'positive' in a classification scheme of "positive or negative"; the value of '20g' on the quantitative scale of mass.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An information content entity that specifies a value within a classification scheme or on a quantitative scale.
editor note: This term is currently a descendant of 'information content entity', which requires that it 'is about' something. A value specification of '20g' for a measurement data item of the mass of a particular mouse 'is about' the mass of that mouse. However there are cases where a value specification is not clearly about any particular. In the future we may change 'value specification' to remove the 'is about' requirement.
term editor: PERSON:Bjoern Peters

cytometry assay
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: assay
  intersection of: Class
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: realizes
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: evaluant role
        intersection of: Restriction
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: has_specified_input
      some values from: Class
        intersection of: cell
        intersection of: Restriction
subclass of: assay
editor preferred label: cytometry assay
example of usage: An intracellular material detection by flow cytometry assay measuring peforin inside a culture of T cells.
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: An assay that counts and/or measures characteristics of cells.
term editor: IEDB
definition source: IEDB

collection of specimens
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has member
    all values from: specimen
subclass of: material entity
editor preferred label: collection of specimens
example of usage: Blood cells collected from multiple donors over the course of a study.
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: A material entity that has two or more specimens as its parts.
editor note: Details see tracker: https://sourceforge.net/p/obi/obi-terms/778/
term editor: Person: Chris Stoeckert, Jie Zheng
definition source: OBIB, OBI
source: Biobank

organism
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  union of: Viruses
  union of: Bacteria
  union of: Archaea
  union of: Eukaryota
subclass of: material entity
editor preferred label: organism
example of usage: animal
example of usage: fungus
example of usage: plant
example of usage: virus
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A material entity that is an individual living system, such as animal, plant, bacteria or virus, that is capable of replicating or reproducing, growth and maintenance in the right environment. An organism may be unicellular or made up, like humans, of many billions of cells divided into specialized tissues and organs.
editor note: 10/21/09: This is a placeholder term, that should ideally be imported from the NCBI taxonomy, but the high level hierarchy there does not suit our needs (includes plasmids and 'other organisms')
editor note: 13-02-2009: OBI doesn't take position as to when an organism starts or ends being an organism - e.g. sperm, foetus. This issue is outside the scope of OBI.
term editor: GROUP: OBI Biomaterial Branch
definition source: WEB: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organism

specimen
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: material entity
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has role
    some values from: specimen role
subclass of: material entity
editor preferred label: specimen
example of usage: Biobanking of blood taken and stored in a freezer for potential future investigations stores specimen.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A material entity that has the specimen role.
editor note: Note: definition is in specimen creation objective which is defined as an objective to obtain and store a material entity for potential use as an input during an investigation.
term editor: PERSON: James Malone
term editor: PERSON: Philippe Rocca-Serra
definition source: GROUP: OBI Biomaterial Branch
IAO_0000233: https://github.com/obi-ontology/obi/issues/1013

data transformation
type: Class
equivalent class: Restriction
  on property: achieves_planned_objective
  some values from: data transformation objective
subclass of: planned process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: realizes
  some values from: Restriction
    on property: concretizes
    some values from: Class
      intersection of: algorithm
      intersection of: Restriction
        on property: has part
        some values from: objective specification
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_input
  all values from: data item
disjoint with: information acquisition
editor preferred label: data transformation
example of usage: The application of a clustering protocol to microarray data or the application of a statistical testing method on a primary data set to determine a p-value.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A planned process that produces output data from input data.
term editor: Elisabetta Manduchi
term editor: Helen Parkinson
term editor: James Malone
term editor: Melanie Courtot
term editor: Philippe Rocca-Serra
term editor: Richard Scheuermann
term editor: Ryan Brinkman
term editor: Tina Hernandez-Boussard
alternative term: data analysis
alternative term: data processing
definition source: Branch editors
imported from: obi.owl

data transformation objective
type: Class
subclass of: objective specification
editor preferred label: data transformation objective
example of usage: normalize objective
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An objective specification to transformation input data into output data
editor note: Modified definition in 2013 Philly OBI workshop
term editor: James Malone
definition source: PERSON: James Malone

study design
type: Class
subclass of: plan specification
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has part
  some values from: protocol
editor preferred label: study design
example of usage: a matched pairs study design describes criteria by which subjects are identified as pairs which then undergo the same protocols, and the data generated is analyzed by comparing the differences between the paired subjects, which constitute the results of the executed study design.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A plan specification comprised of protocols (which may specify how and what kinds of data will be gathered) that are executed as part of an investigation and is realized during a study design execution.
editor note: Editor note: there is at least an implicit restriction on the kind of data transformations that can be done based on the measured data available.
term editor: PERSON: Chris Stoeckert
alternative term: experimental design
curator note: rediscussed at length (MC/JF/BP). 12/9/08). The definition was clarified to differentiate it from protocol.
imported from: obi.owl

eligibility criterion
type: Class
subclass of: selection criterion
editor preferred label: eligibility criterion
example of usage: PMID: 17579629 -Eligibility criteria included: untreated ED-SCLC; age >/=70 and performance status 0-2, or age <70 and PS 3.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: an eligibility criterion (rule) is_a selection criterion which defines and states the requirements (positive or negative) for an entity to be considered as suitable for a given task or participation in a process.
term editor: Person: Philippe Rocca-Serra
alternative term: eligibility rule
definition source: Adapted from Clinical Research Glossary Version 4.0 CDICS glossary group

human subject enrollment
type: Class
subclass of: selection
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has part
  some values from: informed consent process
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: realizes
  some values from: Restriction
    on property: concretizes
    some values from: eligibility criterion
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_input
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: population
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: has part
      some values from: Homo sapiens
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_output
  some values from: Class
    intersection of: Class
      intersection of: population
      intersection of: Restriction
        on property: has part
        some values from: Homo sapiens
    intersection of: Restriction
      on property: has role
      some values from: participant under investigation role
editor preferred label: human subject enrollment
example of usage: enlisting familiy members of HIV patients into a study
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A planned process with the objective to obtain a population of human subjects to participate in an investigation by determining eligibility of subjects and obtaining informed consent.
editor note: As with group assignment, should the specified output here be an organism which bears a role
term editor: Bjoern Peters
definition source: IEDB
curator note: criteria come from plan / clinical trial branch

acquisition
type: Class
subclass of: selection
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: realizes
  some values from: Restriction
    on property: concretizes
    some values from: selection criterion
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_output
  some values from: Class
    union of: material entity
    union of: information content entity
editor preferred label: acquisition
example of usage: Downloading a 3D structure from the PDB. Purchasing antibodies from sigma.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: the planned process of gaining possession of a continuant.
editor note: 5/31/2012 - OBI workshop: This process is not implying ownership of the material / information.
editor note: Following OBI call November 2012,5th: addition of a restriction to acquisition class to capture the need of having selection criteria Relates to the creation of a class 'selection rule'
term editor: Bjoern Peters
definition source: IEDB
curator note: This needs to be fleshed out and logical definitions added that will allow to place the children terms automatically under acquisition

material acquisition
type: Class
subclass of: acquisition
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_output
  some values from: material entity
editor preferred label: material acquisition
example of usage: Acquiring 50 C57BL/6 mice bred in the animal facility of the institute as a service to investigators. Purchasing 1 mg of peptides synthesized by Mimotopes at 80% purity. Getting a gift of purified CD4+ specific antibodies presented by Stephen Schoenberger at LIAI.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An acquisition in which possession of a material entity is gained.
editor note: The assumption is that the object already exists in its current state, e.g, an available mouse strain purchased from the Jackson Lab, this is the differentia from specimen creation
editor note: This excludes processes that create or change materials, such as material transformations.
term editor: Bjoern Peters, Alan Ruttenberg, Helen Parkinson
alternative term: material procurement
definition source: IEDB

information acquisition
type: Class
subclass of: acquisition
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has_specified_output
  some values from: information content entity
editor preferred label: information acquisition
example of usage: Gathering all influenza HA sequences from GenBank, Retrieveing HLA allele frequencies in the North American populations from dbMHC
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An acquisition in which possession of information is gained.
editor note: This excludes processes that create or change information, such as assays and data transformations.
term editor: Bjoern Peters
alternative term: data collection
definition source: OBI branch derived

disease
type: Class
subclass of: disposition
editor preferred label: disease
definition: A disposition (i) to undergo pathological processes that (ii) exists in an organism because of one or more disorders in that organism.
imported from: ogms.owl

disease course
type: Class
equivalent class: Restriction
  on property: realizes
  some values from: disease
subclass of: biological_process
editor preferred label: disease course
definition: The totality of all processes through which a given disease instance is realized.
curator note: replace 'OBI:occurrence of disease', need to add logical definition The axioms of OBI occurence of disease: Equivalent classes: realizes some disease Superclasses: 'has part' some 'pathologic process' 'has participant' some (organism and ('has role' some 'host of immune response role')) biological_process realizes some 'host of immune response role'
imported from: ogms.owl

example to be eventually removed
type: NamedIndividual
type: curation status specification
editor preferred label: example to be eventually removed

failed exploratory term
type: Thing
type: NamedIndividual
type: obsolescence reason specification
editor preferred label: failed exploratory term
definition: The term was used in an attempt to structure part of the ontology but in retrospect failed to do a good job
term editor: Person:Alan Ruttenberg

metadata complete
type: Thing
type: NamedIndividual
type: curation status specification
editor preferred label: metadata complete
definition: Class has all its metadata, but is either not guaranteed to be in its final location in the asserted IS_A hierarchy or refers to another class that is not complete.

organizational term
type: Thing
type: NamedIndividual
type: curation status specification
editor preferred label: organizational term
definition: Term created to ease viewing/sort terms for development purpose, and will not be included in a release
term editor: PERSON:Alan Ruttenberg

ready for release
type: Thing
type: NamedIndividual
type: curation status specification
editor preferred label: ready for release
definition: Class has undergone final review, is ready for use, and will be included in the next release. Any class lacking "ready_for_release" should be considered likely to change place in hierarchy, have its definition refined, or be obsoleted in the next release. Those classes deemed "ready_for_release" will also derived from a chain of ancestor classes that are also "ready_for_release."

metadata incomplete
type: Thing
type: NamedIndividual
type: curation status specification
editor preferred label: metadata incomplete
definition: Class is being worked on; however, the metadata (including definition) are not complete or sufficiently clear to the branch editors.

uncurated
type: Thing
type: NamedIndividual
type: curation status specification
editor preferred label: uncurated
definition: Nothing done yet beyond assigning a unique class ID and proposing a preferred term.

pending final vetting
type: Thing
type: NamedIndividual
type: curation status specification
editor preferred label: pending final vetting
definition: All definitions, placement in the asserted IS_A hierarchy and required minimal metadata are complete. The class is awaiting a final review by someone other than the term editor.

placeholder removed
type: Thing
type: NamedIndividual
type: obsolescence reason specification
editor preferred label: placeholder removed

terms merged
type: NamedIndividual
type: obsolescence reason specification
editor preferred label: terms merged
editor note: An editor note should explain what were the merged terms and the reason for the merge.

term imported
type: NamedIndividual
type: obsolescence reason specification
editor preferred label: term imported
editor note: This is to be used when the original term has been replaced by a term imported from an other ontology. An editor note should indicate what is the URI of the new term to use.

term split
type: NamedIndividual
type: obsolescence reason specification
editor preferred label: term split
editor note: This is to be used when a term has been split in two or more new terms. An editor note should indicate the reason for the split and indicate the URIs of the new terms created.

universal
type: NamedIndividual
type: denotator type
editor preferred label: universal
editor note: Hard to give a definition for. Intuitively a "natural kind" rather than a collection of any old things, which a class is able to be, formally. At the meta level, universals are defined as positives, are disjoint with their siblings, have single asserted parents.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: A Formal Theory of Substances, Qualities, and Universals, http://ontology.buffalo.edu/bfo/SQU.pdf

defined class
type: NamedIndividual
type: denotator type
editor preferred label: defined class
definition: A defined class is a class that is defined by a set of logically necessary and sufficient conditions but is not a universal
editor note: "definitions", in some readings, always are given by necessary and sufficient conditions. So one must be careful (and this is difficult sometimes) to distinguish between defined classes and universal.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg

named class expression
type: NamedIndividual
type: denotator type
editor preferred label: named class expression
definition: A named class expression is a logical expression that is given a name. The name can be used in place of the expression.
editor note: named class expressions are used in order to have more concise logical definition but their extensions may not be interesting classes on their own. In languages such as OWL, with no provisions for macros, these show up as actuall classes. Tools may with to not show them as such, and to replace uses of the macros with their expansions
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg

to be replaced with external ontology term
type: NamedIndividual
type: curation status specification
editor preferred label: to be replaced with external ontology term
definition: Terms with this status should eventually replaced with a term from another ontology.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: group:OBI

requires discussion
type: NamedIndividual
type: curation status specification
editor preferred label: requires discussion
definition: A term that is metadata complete, has been reviewed, and problems have been identified that require discussion before release. Such a term requires editor note(s) to identify the outstanding issues.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: group:OBI