Chapter 1 - Introduction to the cell

Summary

The number of cells in the human body is literally astronomical, about three orders of magnitude more than the number of stars in the Milky Way. Yet, for their immense number, the variety of cells is much smaller: only about 200 different cell types are represented in the collection of about 10¹⁴ cells that make up our bodies. These cells have diverse capabilities and, superficially, have remarkably different shapes, as illustrated in Fig. 1.1. Some cells, like certain varieties of bacteria, are not much more than inflated bags, shaped like the hot-air or gas balloons invented more than two centuries ago. Others, such as nerve cells, may have branched structures at each end connected by an arm that is more than a thousand times long as it is wide. The basic structural elements of most cells, however, are the same: fluid sheets enclose the cell and its compartments, while networks of filaments maintain the cell's shape and help organize its contents. Further, the chemical composition of these structural elements bears a strong family resemblance from one cell to another, perhaps reflecting the evolution of cells from a common ancestor; for example, the protein actin, which forms one of the cell's principal filaments, is found in organisms ranging from yeasts to humans.

The many chemical and structural similarities of cells tempt us to search for systematics in their architecture and components.