Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other.

Degree Overview

Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other (CIP 26.0499) is an advanced biological frontier focused on the "micro-mechanics" of life. While standard biology studies organisms as a whole, professionals in this "Other" category are "Cellular Architects." They study signal transduction, cellular aging, regenerative medicine, and the engineering of synthetic tissues. It is a path for "microscopic engineers" who want to understand how the smallest units of life can be reprogrammed to cure diseases and reverse tissue damage.

This field is ideal for "mechanistic thinkers"—individuals who want to go beyond what a cell is to understand exactly how it moves, communicates, and replicates at a molecular level to build next-generation therapies.

What Is an "Other" Cellular and Anatomical Sciences Degree?

A degree in this category is a research-intensive STEM path that emphasizes microscopic anatomy, stem cell biology, and developmental systems. You will study the "Internal Core"—the organelles and pathways that keep cells alive—but your focus will be on specialized or emerging applications. Because this code houses niche programs, your studies might focus on Mechanobiology (how physical force affects cells), Chronobiology (cellular internal clocks), or Space Anatomy (how cells behave in zero gravity). It prepares you to be a "Cellular Bioengineer" capable of manipulating the fundamental building blocks of the human body.

Schools offer this degree to:

• Train "Regenerative Medicine Specialists" who work on 3D-printing human organs and repairing spinal cord injuries
• Develop experts in Signal Transduction, focusing on how cells "talk" to each other to coordinate complex immune responses
• Prepare professionals for Oncology Research, studying how cells lose their internal "brakes" and become cancerous
• Study Stem Cell Therapeutics, exploring how to "reprogram" adult cells back into their embryonic state to heal any part of the body

What Will You Learn?

Students learn that "the cell is the world's most complex factory"; they focus on the molecular logic and structural precision required to maintain life at the microscopic scale.

Core Skills You’ll Build

Most students learn to:

• Master Advanced Microscopy—using Confocal and Electron Microscopes to visualize the inner workings of live cells
• Use "Cell Culture Engineering"—growing human tissues in specialized "labs-on-a-chip" for drug testing
• Design Gene Editing Protocols—using CRISPR-Cas9 to fix genetic errors within individual cells
• Perform Proteomic Analysis—identifying every protein a cell produces to understand its health and function
• Utilize Computational Modeling—simulating cellular behavior on supercomputers to predict disease progression
• Understand Comparative Anatomy—analyzing the structural differences between species to find "evolutionary shortcuts" for healing

Topics You May Explore

Coursework is a deep dive into the machinery of life and the architecture of the body:

• Stem Cell Biology and Reprogramming: The study of "pluripotency" and how to turn a skin cell into a heart cell.
• The Molecular Basis of Aging: Exploring "senescence" and why cells eventually stop dividing and start to decay.
• Tissue Engineering and 3D Bioprinting: Using "bio-ink" and scaffolds to grow functional human tissues in a laboratory.
• Cytoskeletal Dynamics: Understanding the "skeleton" of the cell that allows it to move and change shape.
• Neuroanatomy: The highly specialized study of the cells and structures that make up the brain and nervous system.
• Pathological Anatomy: Analyzing how diseases like Alzheimer's or COVID-19 physically destroy cellular structures.

What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?

Graduates find roles as lead researchers, clinical specialists, and biotech innovators in the pharmaceutical, medical, and academic sectors.

Common job roles include:

• Regenerative Medicine Scientist: Working on the cutting edge of lab-grown organs and stem cell therapies.
• Histotechnologist: Analyzing tissue samples at a microscopic level to help doctors diagnose complex diseases.
• Biotech Research Lead: Directing teams in the discovery of "targeted" drugs that only attack specific cell types.
• Anatomy Professor/Researcher: Teaching the next generation of doctors and conducting original research into body structures.
• Clinical Embryologist: Working in fertility clinics to manage the earliest stages of cellular development.
• Medical Illustrator/Visualizer: Using deep anatomical knowledge to create high-tech 3D models for surgery and education.

Where Can You Work?

These specialists are the "biological builders" of the modern medical era:

• Stem Cell Research Centers: Working at specialized institutes focused on curing paralysis and diabetes.
• Pharmaceutical Companies: Developing "cell-based" assays to test new drugs without the need for animal testing.
• Diagnostic Pathology Labs: Identifying rare diseases through cellular and anatomical analysis.
• NASA and Private Space Firms: Studying how the human body changes in the extreme environment of space.
• Cosmetic and Dermatological Labs: Engineering "synthetic skin" and advanced anti-aging treatments.

How Much Can You Earn?

Because of the extreme technical specialization required, salaries in this field are among the highest in the life sciences.

• Principal Cellular Researchers: Median annual salary of approximately $95,000–$140,000+.
• Tissue Engineering Specialists: Salaries typically range from $85,000 to $130,000.
• Clinical Laboratory Scientists (Specialized): Median annual salary of around $70,000–$95,000.
• Entry-Level Cell Biologists: Often start between $55,000 and $72,000.

Is This Degree Hard?

The difficulty is in the infinite complexity and the need for visual precision. You must be able to memorize and visualize thousands of tiny structures while simultaneously understanding the chemical math that makes them move. It requires a highly focused, patient, and "micro-detailed" mindset—you must be comfortable spending hours looking through a microscope or analyzing data charts. It is a major that rewards those who are "Biological Detectives" and who find beauty in the invisible architecture of life.

Who Should Consider This Degree?

This degree may be a good fit if you:

• Are fascinated by the idea of "building" body parts or "reprogramming" human cells
• Love looking at things under a microscope and figuring out how they work
• Want to go to medical school but want a deeper research background than a standard "Pre-Med" major
• Are interested in the "fountain of youth" and the science of how to stop or reverse aging
• Believe that the future of medicine is "personal"—fixing the body at the cellular level

How to Prepare in High School

• Take AP Biology and AP Chemistry; they are the two lungs of cellular science
• Take a Physics course; understanding "mechanobiology" requires a basic knowledge of physical forces
• Practice Micro-Detailing—hobbies like digital art, coding, or model building help develop the necessary visual focus
• Join a Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) chapter to explore careers in anatomical and clinical science
• Read about "The Human Cell Atlas" and CRISPR to see how we are currently mapping and editing human life

The ability to apply cellular logic and anatomical mastery to the complexities of human regeneration is the hallmark of a successful professional in this field.