分子生物学：开放获取

Cells are the Metabolic Powerhouses of Living Organisms

Abstract

Roberto Mayor*

The cell, often described as the fundamental unit of life, is a remarkable entity that lies at the heart of all living organisms. From the simplest single-celled organisms to the complex multicellular organisms like humans, cells are the building blocks of life. The journey into the world of cells began in the 17th century when Robert Hooke, an English scientist, used a rudimentary microscope to observe thin slices of cork. What he saw were small, box-like structures resembling the rooms in a monastery. Hooke called these structures "cells," a term that has been used ever since to describe the basic unit of life. Thanks to advances in microscopy, we can now peer deep into the microscopic universe of cells. The cell is typically too small to be seen with the naked eye, with most cells measuring between 1 and 100 micrometers.