Book excerpt: Computational methods are playing an ever increasing role in cell biology. This volume of Methods in Cell Biology focuses on Computational Methods in Cell Biology and consists of two parts: (1) data extraction and analysis to distill models and mechanisms, and (2) developing and simulating models to make predictions and testable hypotheses. - Focuses on computational methods in cell biology - Split into 2 parts--data extraction and analysis to distill models and mechanisms, and developing and simulating models to make predictions and testable hypotheses - Emphasizes the intimate and necessary connection with interpreting experimental data and proposing the next hypothesis and experiment