The fifth Greek edition of the book Basic Principles of Cellular Biology coincides with the unprecedented circumstance of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic, which painfully reminded us of the value 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, try to understand on a biological basis what this unique threat means for health, freedom, and social cohesion.

The selective reference made earlier aims to underscore that understanding the basic principles of Cell Biology is not only useful for students, teachers, and researchers in the broad field of biosciences but also for anyone interested in being informed about life and its fascinating but sometimes dangerous aspects. Through the study of Biology, we understand the unity of life on our planet while simultaneously recognizing the uniqueness of each organism. 

Learning what unites us within diversity, we take significant steps towards essential self-knowledge and addressing the multifaceted crises we will be called to manage in the coming years. But how can we approach the fundamental principles and concepts of Biology as well as its social, philosophical, and ethical implications? The book you hold in your hands is a valuable guide in this direction: it is comprehensive and clear, analytical yet synthetic, richly illustrated, and inductively presented. Careful reading of it offers substantial knowledge and not just information for memorization. The Greek rendition of the fifth edition titled Basic Principles of Cellular Biology was done with scientific accuracy and linguistic excellence. 

In collaboration with the fellow editors of the edition, Professors Nikolaos Moschonas and Aristidis Iliopoulos, and the translators, whom I thank for the joint effort, we attempted to render the text in proper Greek, following the established Greek terminology. Special mention is due to Spyros Petrakis, Neurobiology Researcher at the Institute of Applied Biosciences of CERTH, for his dedication in coordinating the translation work. The Sectional Editing was done by Mr. Anastasios G. Kriebardis, Apostolos H. Beloukas, Androniki S. Papoutsi, Spyros I. Petrakis, whom I also thank. 

The endeavor was inherently difficult and, inevitably, the book will contain spelling errors and phrasing inaccuracies for which we ask the reader's understanding in advance. Once again, I express my warm thanks to the collaborators of "Broken Hill Publishers, Ltd" and to the publisher and dear friend Mr. Christos Paschalidis for their professionalism and excellent cooperation in the publication of the book. My involvement with the book Basic Principles of Cellular Biology, first as a translator and then as an editor, dates back to the very first edition in 1998. I had the great honor and fortune to start this journey under the guidance of the late Christina Zioudrou, a figure in the positive sciences and, more broadly, in the intellectual community of our country.

Christina was an exemplary teacher who could see the "big picture" and convey it with clarity and eloquence. We need many more like her!