The fundamental molecular processes of cells are examined using evidence from biochemical, physiological and microscopic analyses. Topics include: the logical spatial and temporal organization and regulation of of metabolism; generation and function of cellular compartments; the organization and regulation of cell growth and division; and cell-environment and cell-cell interactions. Comparisons among prokaryotic , free-living eukaryotic and metazoan eukaryotic cells of diverse organisms are used to assess the universality of these processes and their mechanisms.