细胞是生命的最小自我维持单位。细胞生物学学科涉及细胞结构和功能的研究，但跨越分子和生物方法。要了解生命系统，必须阐明构成单个细胞的结构，功能和繁殖基础的原理。例如，细胞如何生长和分裂，新细胞如何组装它们的成分，以及组装后的细胞如何在生物体的整个生命过程中更新其成分。其他问题包括细胞如何通过信号传导机制进行交流以及这些信号如何影响细胞凋亡等问题。细胞的功能和行为。细胞如何制定发展计划以形成新的生物对人类疾病的研究通常至少部分涉及在细胞水平上生物学过程如何出现问题的表征。细胞生物学的现代方法涉及一系列结构，分
Cell biology involves study of the structure and function of cells, the minimal self-sustaining units of life. To understand living systems, one must illuminate the principles that underlie the structure, function, and propagation of individual cells. For example, how do cells grow and divide, how do new cells assemble their components, and how do assembled cells renew their components throughout the life of an organism Other questions include the issues of how cells communicate through signaling mechanisms and how these signals influence the function and behavior of cells. Studies of human diseases typically involve, at least in part, a characterization of how biological processes have gone awry at the cellular level. The environment at Caltech offers a rich opportunity for research into the current pressing questions of modern cell biology.