Cell biology has seen a surge in mechanobiology-related research directed toward understanding how cells exert and respond to forces. Forces are increasingly recognized as major regulators of cell structure and function. The mechanical properties of cells are essential to the mechanisms by which cells sense forces, transmit them to the cell interior or onto adjacent cells, and convert these forces into chemical signals that impact a wide range of cellular responses. Examining the effects of forces on cells, as well as examining the mechanical properties of cells themselves, informs a wide range of applications ranging from understanding disease pathology to the development of tissue engineering devices.