The Dictionary of Cell Biology

Cell biology forms the link between the molecular life sciences and the rest of biology and medicine. Its vocabulary is hence diverse and includes many terms specific to itself as well as many others borrowed from the whole range of adjoining disciplines. This second edition builds on the foundations of the first volume. Obsolete terms have been dropped and new ones added to reflect the fast-moving nature of the disciplines concerned. In fact, over 1000 new entries bring the total to more than 5000 terms, each expertly explained and cross-referenced where necessary. The growing disciplines of molecular and neurobiology, in particular, have attracted more detailed coverage. The Dictionary will serve equally as a handy reference, a companion to other reference texts, or a spelling and fact checker for students, research scientists and those engaged in ancillary activities, such as science journalists, and the curious lay reader.

Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Nonfiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.