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Written for undergraduate cell biology courses, Principles of Cell Biology, Second Edition provides students with the formula for understanding the fundamental concepts of cell biology. This practical text focuses on the underlying principles that illustrate both how cells function as well as how we study them. It identifies 10 specific principles of cell biology and devotes a separate chapter to illustrate each. The result is a shift away from the traditional focus on technical details and towards a more integrative view of cellular activity that is flexible and can be tailored to suit students with a broad range of backgrounds.

The Second Edition features a fully revised art program with new full-color images and illustrations that simplify key concepts and cell function. Concept Check questions at the end of each section along with new end-of-chapter questions assess student comprehension, ensuring retention of key cell biology principles. An informal, narrative writing style makes even the most complex concepts accessible to students new to the scientific field, making Principles of Cell Biology the clear choice for anyone studying the fascinating field of cell biology

Table of Contents:
Preface • Acknowledgments • The Student Experience • About the Author • A Note to the Students Chapter 1: What Is a Cell? • The Big Picture • The Cell Is the Fundamental Unit ofLife • An Overview of the Molecular Building Blocks of Cellular Structures • Cells Contain Distinct Structures That Perform Specialized Functions • Cells in Multicellular Organisms Can Be Highly Specialized to Perform a Subset of the Functions Necessary for Life • Model Organisms Are Often Studied to Understand More Complex Organisms Chapter Summary Chapter 2: Nucleic Acids • The Big Picture • All of the Information Necessary for Cells to Respond to Their External Environment Is Stored as DNA • DNA Is Carefully Packaged inside Cells • DNA Packaging Is Hierarchical • The Nucleus Carefully Protects a Eukaryotic Cell’s DNA • Chapter Summary Chapter 3: Proteins and Polypeptides • The Big Picture • Amino Acids Form Linear Polymers • Protein Structure Is Classified into Four Categories • Changing Protein Shape and Protein Function • Where Do Proteins Go to Die? • Chapter Summary Chapter 4: Phospholipids and Membrane Structure • The Big Picture • Phospholipids Are the Basic Building Blocks of Cellular Membranes • The Fluid-Mosaic Model Explains How Phospholipids and Proteins Interact within a Cellular Membrane • The Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum and Golgi Apparatus Build Most Eukaryotic Cellular Membrane Components • Chapter Summary Chapter 5: The Cytoskeleton and Cellular Architecture • The Big Picture • The Cytoskeleton Is Represented by Three Functional Classes of Proteins • Intermediate Filaments Are the Strongest, Most Stable Elements of the Cytoskeleton • Microtubules Organize Movement inside a Cell • Actin Filaments Control the Movement of Cells • Eukaryotic Cytoskeletal Proteins Arose from Prokaryotic Ancestors • Chapter Summary Chapter 6: The Extracellular Matrix and Cell Junctions • The Big Picture • The Extracellular Matrix Is a Complex Network of Molecules That Fills the Spaces between Cells in a Multicellular Organism • Cells Adhere to One Another via Specialized Proteins and Junctional Complexes • Chapter Summary Chapter 7: The Nucleus and DNA Replication • The Big Picture • The Nucleus Contains and Protects Most of a Eukaryotic Cell’s DNA • DNA Replication Is a Complex, Tightly Regulated Process • Mitosis Separates Replicated Chromosomes • Chapter Summary Chapter 8: Protein Synthesis and Sorting • The Big Picture • Transcription Converts the DNA Genetic Code into RNA • Proteins Are Synthesized by Ribosomes Using an mRNA Template • At Least Five Different Mechanisms Are Required for Proper Targeting of Proteins in a Eukaryotic Cell • Chapter Summary Chapter 9: The Endomembrane System and Membrane Trafficking • The Big Picture • The Endomembrane System Is a Network of Organelles in Eukaryotic Cells • Exocytosis Begins in the Endoplasmic Reticulum • The Golgi Apparatus Modifies and Sorts Proteins in the Exocytic Pathway • Exocytosis Ends at the Plasma Membrane • Endocytosis Begins at the Plasma Membrane • The Endosome Sorts Proteins in the Endocytic Pathway • Endocytosis Ends at the Lysosome • Chapter Summary Chapter 10: Cellular Metabolism and Energy Storage • The Big Picture • Cells Store Energy in Many Forms • Gradients across Cellular Membranes Are Essential for Energy Storage and Conversion • Storage of Light Energy Occurs in the Chloroplast • Cells Use a Combination of Channel, Carrier, and Pump Proteins to Transport Small Molecules across Membranes • The First Phase of Glucose Metabolism Occurs in the Cytosol • Aerobic Respiration Results in the Complete Oxidation of Glucose • Chapter Summary Chapter 11: Signal Transduction and Cellular Communication • The Big Picture • Signaling Molecules Form Communication Networks • Cell Signaling Molecules Transmit Information between Cells • Intracellular Signaling Proteins Propagate Signals within a Cell • A Brief Look at Some Common Signaling Pathways • Chapter Summary Chapter 12: Control of Gene Expression • The Big Picture • Many Signaling Proteins Enter the Nucleus • Effector Proteins in the Nucleus Are Grouped into Three Classes • Signal Transduction Pathways and Gene Expression Program Form Feedback Loops • Chapter Summary Chapter 13: The Birth and Death of Cells • The Big Picture • New Cells Arise from Parental Cells That Complete the Cell Cycle • Multicellular Organisms Contain a Cell Self-Destruct Prograrm That Keeps Them Healthy • Chapter Summary Chapter 14: Tissues • The Big Picture • Epithelial Tissues Form Protective, Semipermeable Barriers between Compartments • Nervous Tissues Store and Transmit Information as Electrical Charge • Muscle Tissues Convert Chemical Signals into Mechanical Force • Connective Tissues Provide Mechanical Strength and Cushioning to the Animal Body • Chapter Summary Glossary • Answers • Index