Cell biology programs teach people the structure, function, and regulation of cells. Students learn about cells as individual units or as components of a larger system. They may study cells as they relate to anatomy. They may also study cells at the molecular level.

Cells are the basic building blocks of life. Did you know that the same genetic material is in every single human cell? Did you also know that it takes a few trillion cells together to make a person? Many conditions and diseases start with one cell. For instance, the autoimmune disease lupus is caused when a person's immune cells start attacking themselves. So, in a sense, the health of the cell in large part determines the health of a person.

Cell biology explores how cells perform both in isolation and as part of complex tissues. In this program, you learn about the complex interrelations of cells. You also learn about cells' ability to move, reproduce, grow, and change. In addition, you learn about cell anatomy, membrane function, and organelles, which perform specific functions within a cell.

In general, training in cell biology helps you understand normal and abnormal cell function and how to correct its defects. You can use this knowledge to help discover the causes of certain diseases, improve agricultural crops, develop new forms of drugs and vaccines, and improve the environment.

There are several concentrations in cell biology. You may specialize in neurobiology, in which you study neurons. Neurons are nerve cells. Neurons communicate with each other through an electrochemical process. Neurobiology is concerned with the structure and function of these cells and the way they communicate.

You may also study developmental biology. Developmental biologists study all aspects of development and how cells work together to form an organism. The program covers all the modes of development, from embryonic development of animals and plants to aggregation of slime mold amoebae. It also explores the process of regeneration; for instance, the regeneration of limbs in salamanders.

No matter what your focus is, in cell biology programs you learn to use sophisticated methods for seeing the structure, connections, and activity of individual cells.

Less than 50 colleges in the U.S. offer a bachelor's degree program in cell biology. This takes four years of full-time study beyond high school. A bachelor's degree prepares you for graduate studies or for an entry-level position as a research assistant or lab technician in some settings. It is also good preparation for medical, dental, and veterinary school.

Some colleges offer a combined bachelor's and master's program. You can complete a B.S./M.S. program in four years beyond high school, but it may require attending summer sessions. Keep in mind that not all graduate schools will offer your particular area of concentration.

Most positions, particularly in research, require at least a master's degree. A graduate degree allows you to specialize more. It takes about six years beyond high school to complete a master's degree program. A Ph.D. in cell biology may take an additional two to three years. About 120 universities offer a master's degree and over 200 offer a Ph.D. degree.

Graduate students usually choose to focus on a particular process, structure, or specific application of cell biology.