Cell biology

Cell biology (formerly cytology, from the Greek κύτος, meaning 'cell') is a branch of biology that studies the shape , function and behavior of cells. Cell biology encompasses both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and can be divided into many subtopics that may include the study of cell metabolism, cell communication, the cell cycle, cell biochemistry and composition, containing organelles, their interaction with the environment and its life cycle.

With the invention of the light microscope, it was possible to observe structures never before seen by humans, the cells. These structures were studied in detail somewhat later, using various staining techniques and cytochemistry, and later with the essential help of the electron microscope.

Cell biology focuses on understanding how cellular systems work, how these cells regulate themselves, and understanding how their structures work. A related discipline is molecular biology.

History

Three human cells are shown with their blue-colored nuclei. The cell of the left is in the phase of mitosis and the separation of chromosomes is observed to form two daughter cells. Phase contrast microscopy.

Structural studies

The first reference to the concept of cell dates from the XVII century, when the Englishman Robert Hooke used this term, to refer to to the small polyhedral holes that constituted the structure of certain plant tissues such as cork (and because of their resemblance to the priests' rooms called cells).

However, it was not until the XIX century that this concept was developed considering its interior structure. It is in this century, when the cell theory is developed, which recognizes the cell as the basic unit of structure and function of all living beings, an idea that has been one of the pillars of modern biology ever since.

It was this cell theory that largely promoted biological research into the microscopic field, since cells are not visible to the naked eye. The unit of measurement used is the micrometer (μm) formerly known as micron, with cells measuring between 2 and 20 μm, although neurons can be longer.

Microscopic investigation would soon lead to the discovery of the internal cellular structure including the nucleus, chromosomes, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, and other cellular organelles, as well as the identification of the relationship between the structure and function of cells. the cell organelles.

Back in the 20th century, the introduction of the electron microscope revealed details of the cellular megastructure, and histochemistry and cytochemistry. The material basis of heredity, with chromosomes and DNA, was also discovered, and cytogenetics was born.

Biochemical studies

Cellular Biology as such arose as a consequence of a change in the conception of the study of living organisms, as long as they showed functions that went beyond the structural. It is essential to know the life processes of the cell during its cell cycle, such as nutrition, respiration, component synthesis, defense mechanisms, cell division and cell death.

The history of biochemistry as we know it today dates back to the 19th century when much of biology and chemistry were oriented towards the creation of a new integrating discipline: physiological chemistry today known as biochemistry.

We can understand biochemistry as an integrating scientific discipline, which addresses the study of biomolecules and biosystems. In this way, it integrates the chemical-physical laws and biological evolution that determine biosystems and their components.

Molecular studies

Molecular biology involves understanding the interactions of different cell systems, which includes many relationships, including DNA to RNA, protein synthesis, metabolism, and how all of these interactions are regulated to achieve proper cell function.

Molecular biology aims to study, from the molecular point of view, the processes that take place in the living cell. Two macromolecules in particular are the object of his study: DNA and Proteins. This specific area of study is related to other fields of Cellular Biology, such as Genetic Engineering and Biochemistry.

The study by physical-chemical methods of living matter and its biological processes, includes several disciplines within the general concept of Molecular Biology, they are: Structural Biochemistry, Inorganic Biochemistry, Metabolic Biochemistry and Enzymology, Molecular Physiology, Molecular Biology and Physical Chemistry.

Fields of study

To achieve their goals, cell biologists are forced to study the components of the cell at the molecular level (molecular biology).

Main components of the cell study:

• plasma membrane
• cytoskeleton
• cellular core
• river
• endoplasmic reticulous
• Golgi apparatus
• mitochondria
• chloroplast
• lisosomes
• peroxisomes
• Vacuolas
• cellular wall
• intracellular membrane traffic

Notable cell biologists or cytologists

• Peter Agre
• Günter Blobel
• Christian de Duve
• Robert Hooke
• H. Robert Horvitz
• Anton van Leeuwenhoek
• Peter Dennis Mitchell
• Walther Flemming