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Chapter 2 – Studying Cells
Introduction
Figure 2.1 The left-most human cell in this image is undergoing mitosis – the process of splitting genetic material (stained blue with Hoescht) into two new cells. While the steps in mitosis may seem very routine to a high school or university student, it took many many years of research to understand this process. First, biologists had to be able to see cells, nuclei, and chromosomes. Then, they had to discover that genetic material is stored in chromosomes and encoded in DNA (rather than other molecules like proteins). Finally, they had to figure out the many biochemical processes that support DNA replication and movement. The tools of microscopy, genetics, and biochemistry have generated many of the cell biology “facts” we find in textbooks today. (credit: modifcation of TenOfAllTrades at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
While the words “cell biology” may dredge up memories of having to memorize the structure and function of various organelles, cell biology is an active area of science with a rich history. It is also a fairly young discipline because the tools to conduct cell biology developed much later than those need to study whole multicellular organisms. To understand how we know what we know about cells, it is important to recognize the contribution of various tools and subdisciplines of biology, including microscopy, biochemistry, and genetics. These scientific approaches continue to help us learn about cells, their function, and their evolution.
