Is_A Inheritance Relation

is_a is the default inheritance type of relation between a child class (subclass) and its parent class.

Interpretation of is_a relation among continuants

If C and C1 are continuant classes, then C is_a C1 means that every instance of C, at any time, is an instance of C1 at the same time.

Examples

  • Nanoparticle is_a Nanostructure
  • Iron Oxide Nanoparticle is_a Nanoparticle

Interpretation of is_a relation among occurrents

If P and P1 are occurrent classes, then P is_a P1 means that every instance of P is an instance of P1.

Examples

Characterization is_a Experiment
Active Targeting is_a Tumor Targeting

Reference

Smith B, Ceusters W, Klagges B, Kohler J, Kumar A, Lomax J, Mungall C, Neuhaus F, Rector AL, Rosse C: Relations in biomedical ontologies. Genome Biol 2005, 6: R46.
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