The fifth edition in Greek of the book Fundamental Principles of Cell Biology coincides with the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic caused by the SARS-COV-2 virus, which painfully reminded us of the importance of studying living beings. Terms and concepts such as RNA virus, mRNA vaccines, antigen, immunization, monoclonal antibodies, real-time PCR, among others, are now part of a paradoxical daily life where all of us, experts and non-experts alike, are trying to understand on a biological basis what this unique threat means for health, freedom, and social cohesion.

Understanding the fundamental principles of Cell Biology is useful not only for students, educators, and researchers in the broad field of biosciences but also for anyone interested in learning about life and its fascinating but sometimes dangerous manifestations. Thanks to the study of Biology, we understand the unity of life on our planet while simultaneously recognizing the uniqueness of each organism.

By learning what unites us amidst diversity, we make significant strides toward essential self-awareness and the management of the multifaceted crises we will face in the coming years. This book is a valuable guide in that direction: it is comprehensive and clear, analytical yet synthetic, with rich illustrations and an inductive presentation of the topics. A careful reading of it offers substantial knowledge rather than mere information for memorization. The rendering in Greek of the fifth edition titled Fundamental Principles of Cell Biology was done with a focus on scientific accuracy and linguistic integrity.

In collaboration with the colleagues-editors of the edition, Professors Nikolaos Moschonas and Aristeidis Iliopoulos, and the translators, we aimed to render the text in proper Greek, following the established Greek terminology. Special mention must be made of Spyros Petrakis, a Neurobiology Researcher at the Institute of Applied Biosciences of CERTH, for his dedication in coordinating the translation project. The detailed editing of sections was carried out by Messrs. Anastasios G. Kriemparidis, Apostolos H. Meloukas, Androniki S. Papoutsis, Spyros I. Petrakis.

The endeavor was inherently challenging, and the book may contain spelling errors and phrasing missteps for which understanding is requested from the reader. The engagement with the book Fundamental Principles of Cell Biology, first as a translator and later as an editor, dates back to its very first edition in 1998. Christina Zioudrou was an exemplary teacher who could see the "big picture" and convey it with clarity and eloquence.