Discover of the Cell and the Cell Theory
Discover of the Cell and the Cell Theory
The first time the word cell was used to refer to these tiny units of life
was in 1665 by a British scientist named Robert Hooke. Hooke was one of the
earliest scientists to study living things under a microscope. The microscopes
of his day were not very strong, but Hooke was still able to make an important
discovery. When he looked at a thin slice of cork under his microscope, he
was surprised tosee what looked like a honeycomb. Hooke made the drawing
in the figure below to show what he saw. As you can see, the cork was made
up of many tiny units, which Hooke called cells.
The first time the word cell was used to refer to these tiny units of life
was in 1665 by a British scientist named Robert Hooke. Hooke was one of the
earliest scientists to study living things under a microscope. The microscopes
of his day were not very strong, but Hooke was still able to make an important
discovery. When he looked at a thin slice of cork under his microscope, he
was surprised tosee what looked like a honeycomb. Hooke made the drawing
in the figure below to show what he saw. As you can see, the cork was made
up of many tiny units, which Hooke called cells.
Soon after Robert Hooke discovered cells in cork, Anton van
Leeuwenhoek in Holland made other important discoveries using a
microscope. Leeuwenhoek made his own microscope lenses, and he was so
good at it that his microscope was more powerful than other microscopes of
his day. In fact, Leeuwenhoek’s microscope was almost as strong as modern
light microscopes. Using his microscope, Leeuwenhoek was the first person
to observe human cells and bacteria.
Soon after Robert Hooke discovered cells in cork, Anton van
Leeuwenhoek in Holland made other important discoveries using a
microscope. Leeuwenhoek made his own microscope lenses, and he was so
good at it that his microscope was more powerful than other microscopes of
his day. In fact, Leeuwenhoek’s microscope was almost as strong as modern
light microscopes. Using his microscope, Leeuwenhoek was the first person
to observe human cells and bacteria.
It had taken 200 years before it became generally accepted that all
living things are made of cells because microscopes were so rare. Schleiden
and Schwann, who are usually given credit for elucidating the cell theory,
made their marks in 1838 and 1839. In 1838 Matthias Schleiden (1804–1881)
proposed that every structural element of plants is composed of cells or the
products of cells. In 1839 a fellow German, Theodor Schwann (1810–1882),
proposed that in animals too every structural element is composed of cells or
cell products. Schwann's contribution might be regarded as the more
groundbreaking, since the understanding of animal structure lagged behind
that of plants. In addition, Schwann made the explicit claim that the
fundamental laws governing cells were identical between plants and animals.
It had taken 200 years before it became generally accepted that all
living things are made of cells because microscopes were so rare. Schleiden
and Schwann, who are usually given credit for elucidating the cell theory,
made their marks in 1838 and 1839. In 1838 Matthias Schleiden (1804–1881)
proposed that every structural element of plants is composed of cells or the
products of cells. In 1839 a fellow German, Theodor Schwann (1810–1882),
proposed that in animals too every structural element is composed of cells or
cell products. Schwann's contribution might be regarded as the more
groundbreaking, since the understanding of animal structure lagged behind
that of plants. In addition, Schwann made the explicit claim that the
fundamental laws governing cells were identical between plants and animals.
In 1858, German physician Rudolf Carl Virchow proposed a third tenet in
the cell theory stating thatall cells come from other cells through the process of
cell division. Collectively, the concepts of Schleiden,Schwann, and Virchow
were summarized into what is known today as the “cell theory”, which states
the following:
In 1858, German physician Rudolf Carl Virchow proposed a third tenet in
the cell theory stating thatall cells come from other cells through the process of
cell division. Collectively, the concepts of Schleiden,Schwann, and Virchow
were summarized into what is known today as the “cell theory”, which states
the following:
1. All organisms are composed of one or more cells.
2. Cells are the smallest and basic units of structure and function in
1. All organisms are composed of one or more cells.
2. Cells are the smallest and basic units of structure and function in
organisms.
3. Cells arise only from previously existing cells.
organisms.
3. Cells arise only from previously existing cells.