Cell biology is a branch of biology, which is mainly involved with the study of the cell, its types, structure, functions and its interaction with other cells. Cell biology is also called cytology and is derived from the Greek word “kytos”, meaning vessel.
Important Topics in Cell Biology
Why is Cell called the Fundamental Unit of Life?
The cell is called a fundamental unit of life because every single living species is composed of a cell.
The cell is a Latin word that refers to a small room. It was first discovered in the year 1665 by the English philosopher and architect named Robert Hooke. Later in the year 1839, two German Scientists, Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann proposed the cell theory. According to this theory:
- Every living organism is composed of one or more cells.
- The cell is the fundamental unit of life.
- Cells are the structural and functional organization in organisms.
- All cells arise from pre-existing cells.
- All biochemical processes are carried out by cells.
On the whole, cell biology is essential to all other biological sciences, including genetics, molecular biology, immunology, etc.
Cell biology is about the cell, cell division and its functions. Every living species are composed of a cell. The human body comprises around a billion to trillion cells, which are mainly involved in different specialized functions. Their shape and size usually vary, and a single, minute cell alone can perform several functions to keep an organism healthy and alive.
Cell or cellular biology, the sub-discipline of biology, mainly deals with the study of the cell, cell theory, different types of cell- unicellular, multicellular, cell organelles along with their functions, prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and different kinds of cellular processes.
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