What are cells?

Question

Hello. I want to understand cells. most definitions of cells that I've encountered are either highly analogical or characterize cells as the smallest components of living things (which seems wrong considering cells' atomic structure) which doesn't tell you much about the cell. What are cells?

Answer 1

Cells are essentially the building blocks of living things. All living organisms are made up of cells whether they are multicellular like us or single cells like bacteria. The cells are made up of different organelles which serve different functions. These cells also contain DNA (or RNA) which codes for everything that makes you what you are. Cells are also specialized in multicellular organisms to make up tissues and organs which perform different jobs in your body. On a more molecular level cells are defined by their lipid bilayer membrane which forms the boundary of the cell. The other organelles within a cell are made up of many different molecules and proteins.

Answer 2

Hi! First of all, I really love the nature of this question. Indeed, what are cells? How do you explain them, without trying to make an analogy to something else? And technically no they aren't the very smallest component of living things because, like you said, they can be broken down into smaller components, which can even be broken down into their atomic components.

I would describe cells as maybe the smallest functional unit of living things? Cells almost function as their own little organism and some organisms are in fact single-celled, like prokaryotes. So yeah, to answer your question in the broad sense, they're the smallest functional unit in an organism that collectively work together to make up that organism. And of course, they're made up of all the macromolecules and stuff that they are made up of, all that technical stuff.