ABSTRACT

Biological cells are the smallest and most basic units of life. The field of cell biology, which seeks to elucidate cell function through better understanding of physiological processes, cellular structure, and the interaction of cells with the extracellular environment, has become the primary basic science for better understanding of human disease in biomedical research. Until recently, the study of basic problems in cell biology has been performed almost exclusively within the context of biochemistry and through the use of molecular and genetic approaches. Pathological processes may be considered disruptions in biochemical signaling events. The regulation of cell function by extracellular signals may be understood from the point of view of binding of a molecule to a receptor on the cell surface. Basic cellular processes such as cell division are considered in terms of the biochemical events driving them. This emphasis on biochemistry and structural biology in cell biology research is reflected in typical curricula and core texts traditionally used for cell biology courses.