Cells are the basic units of life that make up all living things. They carry out three basic life processes: nutrition, reproduction, and sensitivity. Cells contain organelles that carry out different functions - the membrane controls what enters and exits, the nucleus controls the cell, and the cytoplasm contains organelles and carries out their functions. Cells are organized into levels with cells forming tissues, tissues forming organs, and organs forming systems. There are different types of tissues including blood, muscle, bone, nervous, fat, and epithelial tissues that have specific functions like movement, support, information transport, storage, and protection.