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Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B (2011) 366, 3493
doi:10.1098/rstb.2011.0088
Preface
Reproduction is a universal characteristic of life. It is
seen in its simplest form with the reproduction of the
cell, the basis for the growth and development of
all living organisms and the topic of this issue of
Philosophical Transactions B. The processes that bring
about cellular reproduction make up the cell cycle,
the period between the birth of a cell and its subsequent division into two daughter cells. During the
cell cycle, a cell generally doubles its size and reproduces itself in space, and so the cell cycle is itself a
simple example of biological development. The most
important events of the cell cycle bring about the replication of DNA, the hereditary material, and the
subsequent partitioning of the replicated DNA into
the daughter cells. Because DNA encodes the genes
responsible for many cellular features and is subject
to variation through errors in replication and environmental insults, cells are subject to selection and
evolutionary change. In single-celled organisms, this
ultimately leads to the emergence of new species,
whereas in multi-cellular organisms it is important
for cancer and the immune system.
For these reasons, the cell cycle can be considered
as a microcosm for many aspects of life. It embraces
temporal and spatial development, reproduction, the
replication and segregation of hereditary material,
and evolutionary change. It is also important for the
growth and development of multi-cellular organisms
and for diseases, especially cancer and some disorders
of the immune system. So the cell cycle is a profoundly
interesting topic for study, as is clear from the outstanding collection of articles which make up this
issue, explaining how we have got to where we are
now and pointing out where we might go in the future.
Paul Nurse
August 2011
The Royal Society, 6 – 9 Carlton
London SW1Y 5AG, UK
[email protected]
House
Terrace,
One contribution of 16 to a Theme Issue ‘The cell cycle’.
3493
This journal is q 2011 The Royal Society