The History of the
and the
By Travis Terry
Copyright © 2012 Travis Terry
What is a CELL?
The cell is the basic unit of structure and function in living
organisms. There are many different types of cells, each
with their own specific function, that act as the building
blocks of living organisms.
•Before the 16th century, cells were not known and scientists did not know
that life was made up of any other matter…
•Towards the end of the 16th century, the Compound Microscope was
invented which enabled many scientists to understand how life works from
a different point of view. Scientists could now see objects that were much
smaller than what the human eye alone could see.
•Without a few certain scientists, we would not understand how life works
where we cannot see with our eyes alone. Eventually, the ‘Cell Theory’ was
developed because of their work. Here are those people!
Meet the Scientists!
1590
Both Hans and Zacharias
Janssen, father and son, were
Dutch lens makers who
produced the first compound
microscope.
Hans and Zacharias Janssen
What is a compound microscope?
A compound microscope is a microscope which
uses multiple lenses to collect light from the
sample and then a separate set of lenses to focus
the light into the eye or camera.
The compound microscope is used to magnify
extremely small objects.
1590
2012
1665
Robert Hooke was an English
scientist. He looked at a thin
slice of cork through a
compound microscope and
observed tiny, hollow room-like
structures. He called them cells,
but only saw the outer cell
walls because the cork cells
were not alive.
A sketch of Robert Hooke’s view of a sample of
cork versus what cork can look like under a
microscope, magnified 1000 times.
1680
Dutch amateur scientist;
looked at blood, rain water,
and scrapings from teeth
through a simple microscope.
He called these structures
“animalcules”. These are
now referred to as microorganisms. He is commonly
known as the ‘Father of
Microbiology’.
1838
German botanist;
viewed plant parts
under a microscope
and discovered that
they are made of cells.
Theodor Schwann
1839
German zoologist; viewed
animal tissue from animal
organs under a
microscope and
discovered that they
were made of cells.
Schleiden and Schwann
• The official fathers of the Cell Theory.
Robert Remack
• 1838 Discovered cell division
• He was denied full professor status
due to his faith. Virchow
plagiarized his theory a few years
later.
Rudolf Virchow
1855
German physician; stated
that living cells come only
from other living cells.
“Every cell comes from a
cell.”
With the work of these people…
the ‘Cell Theory’ was developed.
The ‘Cell Theory’ states…
•All living things or organisms are made of cells
and their products.
•New cells are created by old cells dividing into
two.
•Cells are the basic building units of life.