News tagged with cell biology

Alan Turing's 1950s tiger stripe theory proved

Researchers from King's College London have provided the first experimental evidence confirming a great British mathematician's theory of how biological patterns such as tiger stripes or leopard spots are ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Feb 19, 2012 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (64) | comments 23 | with audio podcast

A mitosis mystery solved: How chromosomes align perfectly in a dividing cell

Although the process of mitotic cell division has been studied intensely for more than 50 years, Whitehead Institute researchers have only now solved the mystery of how cells correctly align their chromosomes during symmetric ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Feb 12, 2012 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (29) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Scientists discover molecular secrets of 2,000-year-old Chinese herbal remedy

For roughly two thousand years, Chinese herbalists have treated Malaria using a root extract, commonly known as Chang Shan, from a type of hydrangea that grows in Tibet and Nepal. More recent studies suggest that halofuginone, ...

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Feb 12, 2012 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (28) | comments 29 | with audio podcast

Folding light: Wrinkles and twists boost power from solar panels

Taking their cue from the humble leaf, researchers have used microscopic folds on the surface of photovoltaic material to significantly increase the power output of flexible, low-cost solar cells.

Physics / Optics & Photonics

created Apr 27, 2012 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (15) | comments 8 | with audio podcast

Researchers discover what cancer cells need to travel

(PhysOrg.com) -- Cancer cells must prepare for travel before invading new tissues, but new Cornell research has found a possible way to stop these cells from ever hitting the road.

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Feb 22, 2012 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (14) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Discovery of extremely long-lived proteins may provide insight into cell aging

One of the big mysteries in biology is why cells age. Now scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies report that they have discovered a weakness in a component of brain cells that may explain ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Feb 03, 2012 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (13) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Quantum biology and Ockham's razor

(PhysOrg.com) -- In a paper just published in Nature Chemistry, a team of University of Bristol scientists explores whether new models or concepts are needed to tackle one of the 'grand challenges' of che ...

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Feb 06, 2012 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (12) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Honeycomb structure responsible for bacteria's extraordinary sense

(PhysOrg.com) -- Cornell researchers have peered into the complex molecular network of receptors that give one-celled organisms like bacteria the ability to sense their environment and respond to chemical ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Feb 20, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (11) | comments 4 | with audio podcast

Scientists unlock key to cancer cell death mystery

An international team of scientists has announced a new advance in the ability to target and destroy certain cancer cells.

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Mar 26, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (10) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Which plants will survive droughts, climate change?

(PhysOrg.com) -- New research by UCLA life scientists could lead to predictions of which plant species will escape extinction from climate change.

Biology / Ecology

created Apr 06, 2012 | popularity 4 / 5 (9) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

How cells dispose of their waste

German researchers reveal the structure of cellular protein degradation machinery.

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Jan 23, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (7) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Scientists open new window into how cancers override cellular growth controls

Rapidly dividing cancer cells are skilled at patching up damage that would stop normal cells in their tracks, including wear and tear of telomeres, the protective caps at the end of each chromosome.

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Mar 21, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (6) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

First atomic-scale real-time movies of platinum nanocrystal growth in liquids

They won't be coming soon to a multiplex near you, but movies showing the growth of platinum nanocrystals at the atomic-scale in real-time have blockbuster potential. A team of scientists with the Lawrence ...

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Apr 19, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (5) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Plants use circadian rhythms to prepare for battle with insects

In a study of the molecular underpinnings of plants' pest resistance, Rice University biologists have shown that plants both anticipate daytime raids by hungry insects and make sophisticated preparations to ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Feb 13, 2012 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (5) | comments 4 | with audio podcast

New study makes key finding in stem cell self-renewal

A University of Minnesota-led research team has proposed a mechanism for the control of whether embryonic stem cells continue to proliferate and stay stem cells, or differentiate into adult cells like brain, liver or skin.

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Feb 06, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Cell biology

Cell biology (formerly cytology, from the Greek kytos, "container") is an academic discipline that studies cells – their physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with their environment, their life cycle, division and death. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level. Cell biology research encompasses both the great diversity of single-celled organisms like bacteria and protozoa, as well as the many specialized cells in multicellular organisms like humans.

Knowing the components of cells and how cells work is fundamental to all biological sciences. Appreciating the similarities and differences between cell types is particularly important to the fields of cell and molecular biology as well as to biomedical fields such as cancer research and developmental biology. These fundamental similarities and differences provide a unifying theme, sometimes allowing the principles learned from studying one cell type to be extrapolated and generalized to other cell types. Hence, research in cell biology is closely related to genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology and developmental biology.

For more information about Cell biology, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.