Cell Biology: What is and its importance

Cell biology is a science that Study cellsfrom how they are structured to their biochemical functioning. It is a branch of biology and, being the cells the basic units of life, their study is essential for knowing the functioning of all living beings.

Within the cells a Vital processes series such as metabolism, protein bending, extracellular communication, substance secretion, excretion of components that are no longer useful, assimilation of growing substances and cell division. All these processes are studied by cell biology and are directly related to cell components, which are the ones who carry out the aforementioned processes.

Cellular components vary according to the cell type since there are different cell types:

• The eukaryot.
• THE PROCARY.
• The animal.
• The vegetable.
• The Fungal.
• The protist.

Having each particular characteristics, cell research can Specialize in each of them. Some of the structures that can be studied are the cell membrane, nucleus, Golgi apparatus, peroxisomes, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, mitochondria, chloroplasts, vacuoles, lysosomes, cell wall and microtubules.

If you want to know more about cell types, do not hesitate to visit this other article that we recommend.

Cell biology has multiple applications, from medicine, to evolution and biotechnology, since its study can solve different problems. Next, we will mention the two most outstanding cell biology applications.

Medicine

Thanks to the knowledge of the cells they have been discovered Pathological fabricslike cancer. This is caused by disorderly cellular multiplication, from what have been created treatments that attack these sick cells. Cytology is the specific branch of cell biology that uses cell staining and marking for know how they are behaving.

In embryonic development, cells have an important role. The Multiplication of cells varies According to the zygote phase, useful information for both reproduction doctors and veterinarians. Related to this is the study of reproductive cells that seek to find problems that can cause infertility. For example, they exist sperm counting exams where it is analyzed whether the movement or number is suitable for the individual to be considered fertile.

There are numerous blood -related diseases, which is also composed of cells. There are platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells and when there are anomalies there are pathologies, such as insufficient production in medullary aplasia or particular problems such as erythroblastopenias. Knowledge of blood cells can help detect pathologies and develop therapies.

Biotechnology

The immune system works thanks to specific cells, such as lymphocytes (for humoral immunity) and T cells (for cellular immunity), which respond to external stimuli that can endanger the body. Cellular responses determine The immune response And through technology is that today they have developed vaccines that use the antibody development principle to prevent diseases.

It is also important to know the cellular functioning of other biological groups. This is responsible for microbiology, where fungal and prokaryotic cells are studied. These cells can be used in biotechnology, for example, for Food production with lactic acid bacteria to produce cheeses and yogurt, or to create Defense methodssuch as antibiotic medications.

If you want to know more about what biotechnology is and what is it for, do not hesitate to take a look at this ecology article.

Cells generate necessary molecules for different functions, which leads us to the difference between cell biology and molecular biology. Although they are related, they study different aspects of the cell.

• Molecular biology: Study the composition, function and structure of cell molecules.
• Cell Biology: Study cell mechanisms that occur in their organelles. Here you can find more information about cellular organelles: what are, functions and examples.

The cell molecules that can be studied are divided into inorganic compounds, small organic molecules and macromolecules. Next, we will explain them more specifically:

• Inorganic compounds: They understand water and mineral salts.
• Small organic molecules: They are sugars, amino acid and nucleotide fatty acids that are united form more complex molecules.
• Macromolecules: They are composed of these small molecules, which form high molecular weight polymers, such as polysaccharides, lipids and phospholipids. Macromolecules of greater importance are proteins and nucleic acids in the form of DNA and RNA. In addition, they are the Base of the study of molecular biologybecause of these the physical and metabolic characteristics of all living beings are detached.

The knowledge of cells is indispensable to know How organisms workand this can be achieved thanks to cell biology. Being the cell the basic unit, it is necessary to know it in depth to understand how life works.

The main contributions to humanity generated from the knowledge of the cell have been originated by molecular biology. Your understanding and management have been allowed:

• Create treatments.
• Prevent diseases and pathologies.
• Produce new types of proteins.
• Modify plant and animal phenotypic features.
• Increase food production.

This branch of biology has been useful to know the origin of several living beings, such as the results of the analysis of Thaliana Arabidopsis, where it has been able to sequence its genome completely and, thanks to this, the evolution of flower plants is being known, which will help Improve agricultural development.

Another important application of molecular biology that needs to be mentioned again is in medicine, with the use of mice as models. We share genes with these animals, such as the kit that regulates pigment cells. From this they have been able modify genes in mice to experiment how they respond to change and know the processes in the human.

The human body tissues are composed of cells. With this knowledge therapies have been developed to regenerate tissues in the best way. For example, they exist Bone regeneration practices where implants are inserted that promote cell renewal, useful in fracture cases. Remodeling occurs by bone cells called osteoclasts and osteoblasts.

Cellular and molecular biology not only have a direct importance with humans. The genetic modification of plants It has been crucial for our food system. Climate conditions have been constantly changing and plants have suffered this accelerated process. This is why genes have been modified for crops can survive temperatures different and even before pests. This has managed to alleviate the famine because food production has increased considerably, especially for the benefit of underdeveloped countries.

If you are curious to know more about biology, here are another article about the branches of biology and what they study.

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