what is a cell
The cell (from Latin cella, meaning small room) is the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known living organisms. Cells are the smallest unit of life that can replicate independently, and are often called the building blocks of life. The study of cells is called cell biology.Cells consist of cytoplasm enclosed within a membrane, which contains many biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Enclosing the cell is the cell envelope â generally consisting of a cell wall covering a plasma membrane though some bacteria also have a further covering layer called a capsule. 2  The envelope gives rigidity to the cell and separates the interior of the cell from its environment, serving as a protective filter.