Cells are the basic building blocks of all living organisms, serving as the smallest units of life that can replicate independently. Structurally, cells are composed of a cell membrane that encloses cytoplasm, genetic material (DNA), and various organelles, each with specific functions. Eukaryotic cells, found in plants and animals, contain a nucleus that houses DNA and are characterized by complex organelles such as mitochondria (energy production), ribosomes (protein synthesis), and the endoplasmic reticulum (protein and lipid processing). Prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria, lack a defined nucleus and are generally simpler in structure. Cells engage in a multitude of functions including energy production, waste processing, response to environmental signals, and reproduction. The study of cells, known as cell biology, is fundamental in fields like genetics, microbiology, and medicine, contributing to our understanding of life and paving the way for innovations in medical treatment and biotechnology.
Researchers have advanced their understanding of how drugs interact with connexin molecules. Connexins create channels that enable direct communication between adjacent cells. Dysfunctions in these…
New findings by EMBL researchers reveal how animals and fungi have developed distinct cell division processes to accommodate their varied life cycles. Cell division is…
New research reveals that cell-in-cell phenomena, where one cell consumes another, are common across all life forms and important for normal biological functions, not just…
Understanding the formation and function of fat tissue is essential for tackling obesity and related metabolic disorders. However, the behavior of adipose tissue, commonly known…
Researchers employ cutting-edge methods to create functional cells, closing the divide between synthetic and biological materials. In a new study published in Nature Chemistry, UNC-Chapel…
New study reveals that ion gradients across cell membranes create a network for swift cellular decision-making, separate from DNA. Cells constantly navigate a dynamic environment,…
A study suggests that soda lakes, characterized by high levels of dissolved sodium and carbonate, might have provided the right conditions for the first cells….
Recent discovery of a new phospholipid narrows the gap in understanding how primordial cells emerged during origin of life. Approximately 4 billion years ago, Earth…
A distinctive photosynthetic machinery characterizes a unicellular organism present in algal blooms. What are the cellular mechanisms within a single-celled marine algae species responsible for…
Research provides new insights into how cells in plants coordinate their responses. A team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently published a…
Recent research has discovered that physical harm to the cell’s outer layer can trigger aging at the cellular level in human cells. The delicate membrane…
Researchers at Osaka University uncover the mechanism by which cysteine activates a crucial regulator of cell growth in yeast. Amino acids serve as life’s fundamental…
The technique known as Zman-seq uncovers the history of cells, potentially propelling the creation of innovative treatments for cancer and various other diseases. While physicists…
Researchers have discovered a previously unidentified protein with antioxidant properties produced by Coxiella burnetii, a Gram-negative intracellular bacterium. This breakthrough suggests potential new treatments for…
A groundbreaking study, recently published in the journal Oncotarget delves into the depths of the cellular world, unveiling a potential ancient anti-cancer mechanism. The research…
Proteins are key to all processes in our cells and understanding their functions and regulation is of major importance. “For many years, we have known…
A group of researchers from the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center identified a crucial epitope (a protein section that can activate the larger protein) on…
Researchers from the University of Iowa demonstrate that pulmonary ionocytes play a key role in the absorption of chloride and water. Researchers from the University…