CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CELL THEORY Timeline of scientists and their discoveries http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OpBylwH9DU Anton van leeuwenhoek 1600’s Dutch businessman Observed bacteria & Protists (protozoa) in pond water using a simple light microscope Anton van leeuwenhoek Microscopic organisms (Animalcules) from the pond water were nicknamed “wee beasties” ROBERT HOOKE 1665 English physicist Observed flowers, insects, and plant tissue ROBERT HOOKE Observed thin slices of cork (oak tree) Coined the term “cell” based on the rooms in a monastary ROBERT BROWN 1833 Observed plant cells under the microscope ROBERT BROWN Observed a dark structure inside each cell and coined the term “nucleus” MATTHIAS SCHLEIDEN 1838 German botanist: scientist who studies plants Concluded all plants are made up of cells THEODORE SCHWANN 1839 German biologist Concluded all animals are made of cells RUDOLF VIRCHOW 1855 German Physician Studied cell reproduction Concluded all cells arise from preexisting cells The cell theory 1. All living things are composed of cells 2. Cells are the basic unit of structure and function in living things. 3. All cells arise from preexisting cells. 4. Genes contain info for growth, reproduction, development.