Survey of Cellular Biology is intended for one term of the introductory biology course for non-science majors taught at many two- and four-year colleges. The concepts of cellular biology, as they apply to the study of life, are introduced, including parts of a cell, metabolism, and homeostasis.

The overall purpose of this preparatory course textbook is to help students familiarize with some terms and some basic concepts they will find later in the Human Anatomy and Physiology I course.

The organization and functioning of the human organism generally is discussed in terms of different levels of increasing complexity, from the smallest building blocks to the entire body. This Anatomy and Physiology preparatory course covers the foundations on the chemical level, and a basic introduction to cellular level, organ level, and organ system levels. There is also an introduction to homeostasis at the beginning.

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Define homeostasis
Describe the factors affecting homeostasis
Discuss positive and negative feedback mechanisms used in homeostasis
Describe thermoregulation of endothermic and ectothermic animals

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

List the different types of hormones
Explain their role in maintaining homeostasis

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Identify and describe the properties of life
Describe the levels of organization among living things
Recognize and interpret a phylogenetic tree
List examples of different subdisciplines in biology

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Describe the difference between the central and peripheral nervous systems
Explain the difference between the somatic and autonomic nervous systems
Differentiate between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Describe how hunger and eating are regulated
Differentiate between levels of overweight and obesity and the associated health consequences
Explain the health consequences resulting from anorexia and bulimia nervosa

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Understand what is meant by consciousness
Explain how circadian rhythms are involved in regulating the sleep-wake cycle, and how circadian cycles can be disrupted
Discuss the concept of sleep debt