INTRODUCTION

Why study cell biology?

1. Aristotle

"All animals and plants, however complicated, are constituted of a few elements which are repeated in each of them."

2. Cell Theory

• invention of microscopy; Robert Hooke
• the cell is the fundamental structural and functional unit of living organisms
• development of the concept of LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION

3. Levels of Organization

• Points:

1. levels are distinct
2. levels are integrated
3. integration helps explain relationship of organism to its environment
4. each level has its specialists with particular tools of observation

• So, the cell biology course will include a discussion of : cells, organelles, molecules, atoms and the techniques employed to study them.
• An example of integration: cardiac muscle; coordinated beating of myocytes