The centennial of E.B. Wilson's The Cell in Development and Heredity.

We review and salute the third edition of E.B. Wilson's "The Cell in Development and Heredity" published a century ago, noting its unique features and placing them in context. Brief commentaries from colleagues convey how they have encountered and have been influenced by . Although soon to be 100 years old, Wilson's 1925 edition is a hallmark of our profession, reminding us of a time when certain scholars were able to advance knowledge with a singularity of both mind and pen. Our purpose is to acknowledge the accomplishment by the man who brought together so many different facets of understanding cells and who many regard as the founder of cell biology in the United States. We reflect on the volume's admirable success and bring together perspectives on why it still matters.