Cell Biology’s definition (Cytology)
Cell Biology is the Biology’s branch which study the cell, focusing on its function, structure, physiological features, constituents, life cycle, division, death and interactions with other cells and surrounding environment. This branch of Biology covers both the study of single-cell organisms (bacteria and protozoa) as the study of more complex organisms, the multicellular organisms (humans, animals and plants). Each cell is composed by various organelles:
- Cell membrane;
- Cytoplasm;
- Nucleus;
- Mitochondria;
- Endoplasmic reticulum (Smooth and Rough);
- Golgi apparatus;
- Ribosomes;
- Lysosomes;
- Centrioles (animal cell);
- Vesicle;
- Chloroplasts (plant cell);
- Cell wall (plant cell and bacteria);
- Plasmids (bacteria);
- Flagella (bacteria);
- Cilium (bacteria).
Cell Biology owes its rise to the finding of microscope by Zacharias Janssen in 1950, since it is necessary the use of a optical microscope to be able to see and analyse the cell. Over the years, watching and studying the cell constituents became possible due to invention of electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, fluorescent microscopy and confocal microscopy. The fact that this science focuses on the study of the basic unit of life, it means that it is closely linked with all other branches of Life Science, such as Genetics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology, Anatomy, etc..
References:
- Alberts B., Johnson A., Lewis J., Raff M., Keith R., Walter P. (2007). Molecular Biology of the Cell (5th edition). Garland Science, New York.
- Lodish H., Berk A., Zipursky S.L., Matsudaira P., Baltimore D., Darnell J. (2000). Molecular Cell Biology (4th edition). W. H. Freeman, New York.
- Cooper G.M. (2000). The Cell: A Molecular Approach (2th edition). Sinauer Associates, Sunderland (MA).
