cell theory
Biology's foundational doctrine
Cell theory is the foundational principle in biology that all living organisms are composed of cells, cells are the basic unit of life, and all cells arise from preexisting cells.
These three tenets, established in the mid-19th century, unified the study of plants, animals, and microorganisms under a single framework: Cell theory revolutionized how scientists understood life itself.
Study of cells
- mitosisNuclear division producing identical cells
- meiosisGamete-producing cell division
- organellesSpecialized cell subunits
- ribosomesCellular translation machinery
cytoplasm · nucleus · chromosomes · DNA · genes · proteins · enzymes · metabolism
Thin tissue sheet
- cytoskeletonInternal protein support structure
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- chloroplastLight-harvesting cell structure
endoplasmic reticulum · lysosome · ribosome · cytoplasm · nucleolus · chromatin · centriole · vacuole
Instrument for viewing minute objects
- magnificationDegree of visual enlargement
- specimenIndividual for examination
- slideSmooth continuous movement
- stainingApplying dye or pigment
resolution · electron microscopy · microbiology · observation · visualization · lens · preparation · imaging
Act of finding something
- formulationDevised mixture or expression
- paradigm shiftWholesale replacement of frameworks
- scientific methodStructured process for investigation
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
postulate · empirical evidence · experimentation · validation · peer review · microscopy · animalcules · spontaneous generation
cytology
Study of cells
- mitosisNuclear division producing identical cells
- meiosisGamete-producing cell division
- organellesSpecialized cell subunits
ribosomes · cytoplasm · nucleus · chromosomes · DNA · genes · proteins · enzymes · metabolism · photosynthesis
membrane
Thin tissue sheet
- cytoskeletonInternal protein support structure
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
chloroplast · endoplasmic reticulum · lysosome · ribosome · cytoplasm · nucleolus · chromatin · centriole · vacuole · vesicle
microscope
Instrument for viewing minute objects
- magnificationDegree of visual enlargement
- specimenIndividual for examination
- slideSmooth continuous movement
staining · resolution · electron microscopy · microbiology · observation · visualization · lens · preparation · imaging
discovery
Act of finding something
- formulationDevised mixture or expression
- paradigm shiftWholesale replacement of frameworks
- scientific methodStructured process for investigation
hypothesis · postulate · empirical evidence · experimentation · validation · peer review · microscopy · animalcules · spontaneous generation
- biologyDNA, biology, gene, bacteriology, evolution
- cellsmitosis, meiosis, plasma membrane, chloroplast, vacuole
- discoveriesbreakthrough, scientific discovery, finding, uncovering, detection
- Biology HistoryDarwin, Mendel, evolution, natural selection, genetics
- cell biologycytoplasm, ribosome, mitochondria, nucleus, organelles
- Science Historyscientific revolution, natural philosophy, scientific method, scientific journals, Royal Society
cell theoryspontaneous generation
Life arising from nonliving material
abiogenesis · vitalism · holism · panspermia · creationism
cell, theory, cells, cellular, unicellular, multicellular, intracellular, extracellular, intercellular