Talk:Cell (biology)

Proposed merge of Cell biology into Cell (biology)

Much of this page is covered and more so on Cell (biology) cell biology is the study of the cell - can see no reason for separate page - also as per talk page there seems a lot of unneeded detail available on many links Iztwoz (talk) 08:44, 21 September 2025 (UTC)

Omg my first discussion. Indeed, I do agree that the two can be merged - perhaps it is better than most of the information of cell biology be shifted (if any is not already in the latter article). However, it might be better to have a separate heading at the start called "cell biology" or "cytology" (to reduce repetition) and then add:

1. The definition of cytology

2. A list of cell biologists

Because those are the only two things which don't specifically belong in an article about cell (but does fit perfectly under the field itself)

And of course, any information added later - if related to the field, say, with a list of timelines of discoveries or something more historically relevant rather than biologically; can be added to the cytology section. ExpertiseinAll (talk) 00:21, 22 September 2025 (UTC)

Thanks for your input ExpertiseinAll – have added info about the varied related fields of study which might be enough.--Iztwoz (talk) 16:32, 22 September 2025 (UTC)

• Comment: The sections that appear unique to 'Cell biology' are the last few: 'Growth and development', 'Cell cycle and DNA damage repair system', 'Mitochondrial membrane dynamics', and 'Autophagy'. (Those sections are in need some refinement.) The 'Cell (biology)' article is already long, so merging those might make it too long? (See WP:LENGTH.) Perhaps they belong in a separate 'Cell lifecycle' article? There's already a 'Cell cycle', but that is specific to replication of eukaryotes. Praemonitus (talk) 16:33, 14 October 2025 (UTC)

• Oppose. It is more than possible that the two subjects have become muddled, but that is a reason for sorting out the muddle, not for physically conflating them. Medicine is different from Disease, which is its object of study and attention. Botany is different from Plant, though botanists study plants. Cell biology is a science; a cell is the object studied by that science. We should have two crisp, clear, different articles on the two topics. We should not be rushing into a muddle-headed disaster here. Chiswick Chap (talk) 09:40, 15 October 2025 (UTC)

I've cleaned up Cell biology now; some of the deleted text, misplaced over there, might be useful over here. Chiswick Chap (talk) 10:13, 15 October 2025 (UTC)

I saw you did that without reaching consensus, and so I added a 'Death' section to Cell (biology) since that is still relevant to the topic. At this point, is there any reason to retain the 'MergeFrom' template? Praemonitus (talk) 22:50, 16 October 2025 (UTC)

• Oppose per Chiswick Chap Phoeromones (talk) 15:48, 16 October 2025 (UTC)

• Withdraw merge proposal following welcome changes made by Chiswick Chap.--Iztwoz (talk) 20:45, 17 October 2025 (UTC)

  Thanks Iztwoz! Chiswick Chap (talk) 01:10, 18 October 2025 (UTC)

"All cells (except red blood cells ) are capable of replication"

Is that a fact?? On the contrary, it is pretty clearly false, a gross generalisation, a schoolboy error. What about gametes? Does a sperm cell ever divide or replicate? What about cells whose only function is to differentiate into a spicule or a scale, or a glandular hair? Or the enucleate cells that construct the transparent lens (vertebrate anatomy) of the eye. Or the companion cells of the phloem? There are innumerable examples. Plantsurfer 22:31, 6 October 2025 (UTC)

Good point. I was wondering about that myself. Praemonitus (talk) 12:58, 7 October 2025 (UTC)

Evolution

You should go into the extensive detail on the evolutionary steps. The endosymbiotic theory, which explains the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts in eukaryotic cells will be great to add. Ahnwnk2n (talk) 15:14, 14 October 2025 (UTC)

No, it barely belongs here and is covered "in extensive detail" in other articles. This article is a top-level article that is regularly searched by school pupils and students as "cell" is in elementary biology courses. It needs to be simple and clear, not complex and muddled (which it also is, see next thread). If we're going to add material it must be brief and understandable by people aged 15–17 of average ability. Chiswick Chap (talk) 06:34, 18 October 2025 (UTC)

Reorganisation needed

The large and prominent chapter "Animal cells" contains multiple sections on topics such as "Cell membrane", "Cell nucleus", "Mitochondria" which are characteristic of Eukaryotes, not of animals. The "Plant cells" chapter then begins disastrously with Plant cells contain the usual eukaryotic organelles: which would those be, then, to a beginning reader? Why would they suppose that meant almost the whole contents of the animal section? They wouldn't know, they'd just be confused. Worse, the "Fungal cells" section makes no mention of the organelles except for an oblique mention of endomembrane system, so readers can't possibly guess which types are present there; and "Protist cells" mentions cell membranes but none of the other eukaryote organelles.

What is needed is a chapter "Eukaryote organelles" to contain all the shared structures, and saying they're shared by all eukaryotes, and then a very short "Animal cells" section which can mention cilia and flagella, there won't be a lot else to say there. I'm not sure the fluorescent epithelial cell will mean much to school-age readers, perhaps it will remind them of some sort of space alien, perhaps not. I suggest we remove it. Chiswick Chap (talk) 06:44, 18 October 2025 (UTC)

This is a work in progress - (it's rated C at the moment) Clearly there's a lot more can be added to the different sections. I think separating the sections is much better than keep referring to specific differences among the different groups in the overall eukaryotic grouping.? Also in the animals section another main topic would be the different types of animal cell including in humans, and so on which would not be able to be lumped together in eukaryote organelles; likewise there are specific plant cells, fungal cells, and protist cells, methods of reproduction and so on. As I said its a C rated page at the moment.--Iztwoz (talk) 07:34, 18 October 2025 (UTC)

Ok, let's do that. Chiswick Chap (talk) 07:53, 18 October 2025 (UTC)

This does not address the concern that shared eukaryotic organelles are not clarified. Do you want to add them to the plant section, fungi section and protist section? Riverskip (talk) 19:30, 5 May 2026 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 6 April 2026

Please change "Peroxisomes, are microbodies bounded by a single membrane." to "Peroxisomes are microbodies bounded by a single membrane." (Remove the extra comma.) CrinchCrunch (talk) 12:38, 6 April 2026 (UTC)

 Done LizardJr8 (talk) 13:16, 6 April 2026 (UTC)

Clarification in intro

"Eukaryotes can be single-celled or multicellular, and include protists, plants, animals, most species of fungi, and some species of algae." should be replaced with "Eukaryotes can be single-celled or multicellular. Single-celled eukaryotes include most protists, with the exception of some algae; and some fungi. Multicellular eukaryotes include plants, animals, some fungi, and some algae." The original makes it sound like not all fungi are eukaryotes. ~2026-25551-66 (talk) 22:33, 26 April 2026 (UTC)

Cell the unit of life

into,acknowledgment,topic, ~2026-28868-76 (talk) 10:13, 13 May 2026 (UTC)

Biology

The study of living organisms ~2026-31636-48 (talk) 12:16, 27 May 2026 (UTC)

Serious problems with the current organization of eukaryotic cells

I know this has been brought up before, but the reality that all universal or almost universal eukaryotic organelles are only discussed under animal cells remains. It is not clear to someone who doesn't know much about cells what organelles are unique to animals and what organelles are shared with other eukaryotes. Addressing these in a eukaryotic cell section is the most clear way to do this. Organelles unique to animals could be discussed under the animal cell section like chloroplasts are in the plant section. Whether or not we think this idea is elegant, something needs to change because the current format does not clearly communicate shared eukaryotic organelles. Riverskip (talk) 03:53, 5 June 2026 (UTC)

Update: I have implemented the changes I proposed after no objections were posted in the last day. I am open to feedback and modifications. Riverskip (talk) 06:15, 7 June 2026 (UTC)

Expansion on discussion of cell types.

I am thinking about adding a section on myocytes and neurons under animal cell types as these are two nearly ubiquitous types of cells in animals. I could also expand discussion on cell junctions and add a section on secretory cells, immune cells, or other cell types. I was considering expanding the discussion of algal cell types with a more detailed look at green, red and brown algae. I would focus on their similarities and differences to each other and to land plant cells. Riverskip (talk) 19:53, 22 June 2026 (UTC)