What is it
Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. Students learn the structure of animal and plant cells, how specialised cells are adapted for their job, and how cells are organised into tissues, organs and organ systems.
Why it matters
Cell theory underpins the whole of biology — from how a plaster heals a cut to how a vaccine works — and 'cell to organism' is the organising idea every later biology topic, right through to GCSE, builds on.
Exam tip
Learn the three-part structure explanation — cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism — in that exact order, since 'put these in order of size/complexity' is a very common question format.
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