Cell biology or cytology is the study of the types, structure and composition of cells. Since it is the fundamental unit of life, it is essential to become familiar with its attributes before moving onto other topics in biology.
On that note, let us sneak a peek at cell biology and genetics in brief.
Why is Cell the Unit of Life?
The fact all living species are made up of cells make it the fundamental unit of life. For instance, in unicellular organisms, including amoeba, yeast, paramecium and bacteria, a single cell is responsible for all essential functions.
On the other hand, in case of multicellular organisms, cells form tissues which collectively perform various bodily functions. Notably, the shape and size of cells tend to vary based on their location and functions.
For example, they can be polygonal, cuboid, columnar, irregular or thread-like in shape. Though there are several types of cells, the most common ones are as follows –
Sex cell
Fat cell
Muscle cell
Bone cell
Immune cell
Blood cell
Epithelial cell
Nervous cell
Fun Fact: Did you know the cell was discovered by an English philosopher and architect, Robert Hooke in 1665.
What is Cell Theory?
The said theory was proposed in 1938 by Theodore Schwann and Matthias Schleiden and was later modified in 1855 by Rudolf Virchow.
The theory states that plant cells and animal cells differ from one another, with the latter not having a cell wall. Furthermore, it stated that cells’ outer membrane serves as a protective boundary and regulates the exchange of ions and molecules among other components.
Do It Yourself: Find out the limitations of the cell theory.
Based on the theory, the following are a few fundamental differences between plant and animal cells –
Differences Between Plant Cell and Animal Cell
Important Cell Biology Topics
In case you are wondering how to study cell biology here are a few important cell biology topics that you should become familiar with.
Cell and tissue
Plant and animal cell
Cell wall and membrane
Cytoplasm
Cytoskeleton
Cell membrane and plasma membrane
Ribosome
Mitochondria
Chloroplast
Plastids
Centrosome
Vacuoles
Prokaryotic cell
Eukaryotic cell
Golgi apparatus
Endoplasmic reticulum
Microbodies
Nucleus
Unicellular organisms
Multicellular organisms
Cell division
Find out what is cell biology and genetics all about by joining our free live online classes. Also, access our latest PDF solutions of cell biology questions to improve your understanding of the concept and other related topics effectively. You can also download our Vedantu app for enhanced accessibility to both study materials and interactive online sessions.
FAQs on Cell Biology
1. What is Cell Biology Education?
Ans. One can define cell biology as a distinct branch of biology which studies the structure, function and types of cells. Also, it is concerned with how cells interact with one another.
2. What is Cell Theory?
Ans. It states that all living organisms are composed of cells, and hence they are the structural and functional unit of life. Furthermore, cells come from pre-existing cells and tend to vary in shape, size and structure.
3. What are the Differences Between Plant Cells and Animal Cells?
Ans. There are several differences between plant and animal cells. For example, animal cells are mostly irregular in shape, whereas plant cells are fixed and rectangular. Also, animal cells neither have a cell wall, nor chloroplasts, both of which are present in plant cells.
