Cytology
Cytology (from Greek κύτος, kytos, "a hollow";[1] and -λογία, -logia) is the study of cells.[2] Cytology is that branch of life science that deals with the study of cells in terms of structure, function and chemistry. Robert Hooke is sometimes seen as the father of cytology.[3]
Based on usage it can refer to:
- Cytogenetics
- Cytopathology: the study of cellular disease and the use of cellular changes for the diagnosis of disease.
- Cell biology: the study of (normal) cellular anatomy, function and chemistry.
The International Academy of Cytology has as its official journal Acta Cytologica.
History
The invention of the microscope in the 1590s by Zacharias Janssen assisted in stimulating the study of cells.[4] Cells that were once invisible to the naked eye became visible. Robert Hooke was the first person to term the building block of all living organisms as "cells" after looking at cork under a compound microscope.[5] The cell theory utilize these findings to explain the properties, structure and function of cells. The cell theory states that all living things are made up cells.[6] The theory also states that both plants and animals are composed of cells which was confirmed by plant scientist, Matthias Schleiden and animal scientist, Theodor Schwann in 1839.[7] 19 years later, Rudolf Virchow contributed to the cell theory, arguing that all cells come from the division of preexisting cells.[8] In recent years, there have been many of studies which question the cell theory. Scientists have struggled to conclude whether viruses are alive or not. Martinus Beijerinck, was the first to use the term virus in 1892.[9] Viruses lack common characteristics of a living cell, such as membranes, cell organelles, and the ability to reproduce by themselves.[10] If a scientist was ever to stumble across concrete proof that viruses are alive, it will debunk the idea that all living things are made up of cells because viruses are in fact not a cell. Viruses range from 0.005 to .03 microns in size whereas Bacteria range from 1-5 microns big.[11] The late 19th century indicates the birth of cytology. Modern day cell biology research looks at different ways to culture and manipulate cells outside of a living body to further research in human anatomy and physiology, to derive treatments and other medications, etc. The techniques at which cells are studied has evolved. Advancement in microscopic techniques and technology such as Fluorescent microscopy, phase contrast microscopy, darkfield microscopy, confocal scanning, etc. have allowed scientist to get a better idea of the structure of a cell.[12]
Cell Structure
There are two fundamental classifications of cells: Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. The major difference between the two is the presence and/or absence of organelles. Other factors such as size, they way in which they reproduce, and number of cells distinguish them from one another.[13] Eukaryotic cells consist of animal, plant, fungi, and protozoa cells which all have a nucleus enclosed by a membrane. Prokaryotic cells, lacking an enclosed nucleus, include bacteria and archaea. Prokaryotic cells are much smaller than Eukaryotic cells, making prokaryotic cells the smallest form of life.[14] Cytologists typically focus on Eukaryotic cells whereas Prokaryotic cells are the focus of microbiologists, but this is not always the case.
See also
References
- ^ Kirkpatrick; et al. (1989). The Cassell Concise English Dictionary. London. p. 324. ISBN 0-304-31806-X.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Cytology". Collection development manual of the National Library of Medicine (4th ed.). Bethesda, MD: National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2004.
{{cite book}}: External link in|chapterurl=|chapterurl=ignored (|chapter-url=suggested) (help) - ^ Bill Nye (host), the 100 greatest discoveries: biology, Documentary by Discovery[unreliable medical source?]
- ^ Christine, Zuchora-Walske (April 1, 2015). Key Discoveries in Life Science. minneapolis: Lerner Publications. p. 9. ISBN 9781467762502.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Hooke, Robert (September 1665). Micrographia.
- ^ Gupta, P. (Dec 1, 2005). Cell and Molecular Biology. Rastogi Publications. p. 11. ISBN 978-8171338177.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Gupta, P. (Dec 1, 2005). Cell and Molecular Biology. Rastogi Publications. p. 11. ISBN 978-8171338177.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Gupta, P. (Dec 1, 2005). Cell and Molecular Biology. Rastogi Publications. p. 11. ISBN 978-8171338177.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Lecoq, H (Oct 2001). "Discovery of the first virus, the tobacco mosaic virus: 1892 or 1898?". C R Acad Sci III. PMID 11570281.
- ^ Kendrick, Karolyn (Jan 1, 2010). Chemistry in Medicine. Benchmark Education Company,. p. 26. ISBN 978-1450928526.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ Cullimore, D. (Dec 17, 2007). Practical Manual of Groundwater Microbiology (2 ed.). CRC Press. p. 117. ISBN 978-0849385315.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Gupta, P. (Dec 1, 2005). Cell and Molecular Biology. Rastogi Publications. p. 11. ISBN 978-8171338177.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Doble, Mukesh; Gummadi, Sathyanarayana N. (August 5, 2010). Biochemical Engineering. New Delhi: Prentice-Hall of India Pvt.Ltd. ISBN 978-8120330528.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Kaneshiro, Edna (May 2, 2001). Cell Physiology Sourcebook: A Molecular Approach (3 ed.). Academic Press. ISBN 978-0123877383.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help)
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