Cell vs. Tissue — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 21, 2023
A cell is the basic unit of life, while tissue is a group of similar cells performing a specific function.
Difference Between Cell and Tissue
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
At the core of biology, both the cell and tissue are fundamental components of living organisms. A cell stands as the most basic unit of life, responsible for various life processes within an organism.
Contrarily, tissue represents a higher level of organization in biology. A tissue comprises a group of similar cells, bundled together, executing a collective function within an organism.
To better appreciate the relationship between a cell and tissue, think of bricks and walls in construction. Just as a single brick is akin to a cell, a wall, which consists of numerous bricks bonded together, resembles tissue.
There are myriad types of cells, from nerve cells to muscle cells, each specialized for its function. Similarly, there are different tissues like epithelial, connective, and muscular, each emerging from the aggregation of specific types of cells.
Conclusively, while both cells and tissues are indispensable to the structure and function of living entities, a cell functions as an individual unit, and tissue acts as an assembly of such units working in unison.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Basic unit of life
Group of similar cells with a function
Complexity
Simpler
More complex
Analogous To
Brick in construction
Wall in construction
Variety
Many types (e.g., nerve, muscle)
Types based on function (e.g., muscular)
Interdependence
Functions independently
Collective function of similar cells
Compare with Definitions
Cell
Basic unit of life.
Every living organism is made up of cells.
Tissue
Net-like structure formed by fibers.
The tissue of lies began to unravel.
Cell
A narrow confining room, as in a prison or convent.
Tissue
Thin piece of soft absorbent paper.
She wiped her tears with a tissue.
Cell
A small enclosed cavity or space, such as a compartment in a honeycomb or within a plant ovary or an area bordered by veins in an insect's wing.
Tissue
A delicate woven fabric containing patterns.
The dress was made of fine tissue.
Cell
(Biology) The smallest structural unit of an organism that is capable of independent functioning, consisting of cytoplasm, usually one nucleus, and various other organelles, all surrounded by a semipermeable cell membrane.
Tissue
The aggregate of a specific kind of cell.
The liver tissue was examined under the microscope.
Cell
(Architecture) See web.
Tissue
A fine, very thin fabric, such as gauze.
Cell
The smallest organizational unit of a clandestine group or movement, such as a banned political movement or a terrorist group. A cell's leader is often the only person who knows members of the organization outside the cell.
Tissue
Tissue paper.
Cell
A single unit for electrolysis or conversion of chemical into electric energy, usually consisting of a container with electrodes and an electrolyte; a battery. Also called electrochemical cell.
Tissue
A soft, absorbent piece of paper used as toilet paper, a handkerchief, or a towel.
Cell
A single unit that converts radiant energy into electric energy
A solar cell.
Tissue
An interwoven or interrelated number of things; a web; a network
"The text is a tissue of mocking echoes" (Richard M. Kain).
Cell
A fuel cell.
Tissue
(Biology) An aggregation of morphologically similar cells and associated intercellular matter acting together to perform one or more specific functions in an organism. There are four basic types of tissue in many animals
Muscle, nerve, epidermal, and connective.
Cell
A geographic area or zone surrounding a transmitter in a cellular telephone system.
Tissue
Thin, woven, gauze-like fabric.
Cell
A cellphone.
Tissue
A fine transparent silk material, used for veils, etc.; specifically, cloth interwoven with gold or silver threads, or embossed with figures.
Cell
(Computers) A basic unit of storage in a computer memory that can hold one unit of information, such as a character or word.
Tissue
A sheet of absorbent paper, especially one that is made to be used as tissue paper, toilet paper or a handkerchief.
Cell
A storm cell.
Tissue
Absorbent paper as material.
Cell
A small humble abode, such as a hermit's cave or hut.
Tissue
(biology) A group of cells (along with their extracellular matrix if any) that are similar in origin and function together to do a specific job.
Cell
A small religious house dependent on a larger one, such as a priory within an abbey.
Tissue
Web; texture; complicated fabrication; connected series.
A tissue of forgeries, or of lies
Cell
A box or other unit on a spreadsheet or similar array at the intersection of a column and a row.
Tissue
The scratch sheet or racing form.
Cell
To store in a honeycomb.
Tissue
To form tissue of; to interweave.
Cell
To live in or share a prison cell.
Tissue
A woven fabric.
Cell
A single-room dwelling for a hermit.
Tissue
A fine transparent silk stuff, used for veils, etc.; specifically, cloth interwoven with gold or silver threads, or embossed with figures.
A robe of tissue, stiff with golden wire.
In their glittering tissues bear emblazedHoly memorials.
Cell
A small monastery or nunnery dependent on a larger religious establishment.
Tissue
One of the elementary materials or fibres, having a uniform structure and a specialized function, of which ordinary animals and plants are composed; a texture; as, epithelial tissue; connective tissue.
Cell
A small room in a monastery or nunnery accommodating one person.
Gregor Mendel must have spent a good amount of time outside of his cell.
Tissue
Fig.: Web; texture; complicated fabrication; connected series; as, a tissue of forgeries, or of falsehood.
Unwilling to leave the dry bones of Agnosticism wholly unclothed with any living tissue of religious emotion.
Cell
A room in a prison or jail for one or more inmates.
The combatants spent the night in separate cells.
Tissue
To form tissue of; to interweave.
Covered with cloth of gold tissued upon blue.
Cell
Each of the small hexagonal compartments in a honeycomb.
Tissue
A part of an organism consisting of an aggregate of cells having a similar structure and function
Cell
Any of various chambers in a tissue or organism having specific functions.
Tissue
A soft thin (usually translucent) paper
Cell
(entomology) The discal cell of the wing of a lepidopteran insect.
Tissue
Create a piece of cloth by interlacing strands of fabric, such as wool or cotton;
Tissue textiles
Cell
(obsolete) Specifically, any of the supposed compartments of the brain, formerly thought to be the source of specific mental capacities, knowledge, or memories.
Tissue
Group of similar cells working together to perform a function.
Muscle tissue helps in movement.
Cell
A section or compartment of a larger structure.
Cell
Any small dwelling; a remote nook, a den.
Cell
A device which stores electrical power; used either singly or together in batteries; the basic unit of a battery.
This MP3 player runs on 2 AAA cells.
Cell
(biology) The basic unit of a living organism, consisting of a quantity of protoplasm surrounded by a cell membrane, which is able to synthesize proteins and replicate itself.
Cell
(meteorology) A small thunderstorm, caused by convection, that forms ahead of a storm front.
There is a powerful storm cell headed our way.
Cell
(computing) The minimal unit of a cellular automaton that can change state and has an associated behavior.
The upper right cell always starts with the color green.
Cell
(card games) In FreeCell-type games, a space where one card can be placed.
Cell
A small group of people forming part of a larger organization, often an outlawed one.
Those three fellows are the local cell of that organization.
Cell
(communication) A short, fixed-length packet, as in asynchronous transfer mode.
Virtual Channel number 5 received 170 cells.
Cell
(communication) A region of radio reception that is a part of a larger radio network.
I get good reception in my home because it is near a cell tower.
Cell
(geometry) A three-dimensional facet of a polytope. Category:en:Higher-dimensional geometry
Cell
(statistics) The unit in a statistical array (a spreadsheet, for example) where a row and a column intersect.
Cell
(architecture) The space between the ribs of a vaulted roof.
Cell
(architecture) A cella.
Cell
(entomology) An area of an insect wing bounded by veins.
Cell
A cellular phone.
Cell
(transitive) To place or enclose in a cell.
Cell
A very small and close apartment, as in a prison or in a monastery or convent; the hut of a hermit.
The heroic confessor in his cell.
Cell
A small religious house attached to a monastery or convent.
Cell
Any small cavity, or hollow place.
Cell
The space between the ribs of a vaulted roof.
Cell
A jar of vessel, or a division of a compound vessel, for holding the exciting fluid of a battery.
Cell
One of the minute elementary structures, of which the greater part of the various tissues and organs of animals and plants are composed.
Cell
To place or inclose in a cell.
Cell
Any small compartment;
The cells of a honeycomb
Cell
(biology) the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; cells may exist as independent units of life (as in monads) or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and animals
Cell
A device that delivers an electric current as the result of a chemical reaction
Cell
A small unit serving as part of or as the nucleus of a larger political movement
Cell
A hand-held mobile radiotelephone for use in an area divided into small sections (cells), each with its own short-range transmitter/receiver
Cell
Small room is which a monk or nun lives
Cell
A room where a prisoner is kept
Cell
Small compartment or bounded space.
The monk lived in a small cell.
Cell
Electrochemical device that produces electric current.
The flashlight requires two AA cells.
Cell
Smallest unit of a device in a grid or matrix.
Fill out the cell in the spreadsheet.
Cell
Short for 'cellular phone'.
I forgot my cell at home.
Common Curiosities
How is tissue defined in biology?
Tissue is a group of similar cells that work together to perform a specific function.
What's the relationship between cells and tissues?
Tissues are formed when similar cells group together to perform a joint function.
What is a cell in biology?
A cell is the fundamental unit of life in organisms.
Are cells independent entities?
While cells can function independently, many work in collaboration as part of tissues.
Can a tissue be made of different cell types?
Typically, a tissue is made of similar cell types, but different tissues work together to form organs.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
