The generally accepted parts of modern cell theory include:
1. All living things are made up of cells.
2. Cells are the basic units of structure and function in living things.
3. Living cells come only from other living cells.
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The Cell Theory was developed from three German scientist's discoveries.
They are Matthias Schleiden, Theodor Schwann, and Rudolph Virchow.
In 1838 the German Botanist Matthias Schleiden discovered that all plants
were composed of cells. Then only a year later a German zoologist, Theodor
Schwann, discovered that all animals were composed of cells. Later in 1855
a German physician named Rudolph Virchow was doing experiments with
diseases when he found that all cells come from other existing cells.
Cells of course were discovered much earlier. The first person to see a cell
was Robert Hooke. He used a very primitive microscope, but when he was
looking at cork cells under the microscope he saw cells for the first time.
The shape of the cells reminded him of the monk monasteries and so he
dubbed them "cells."
Richard Rasmussen
The first person to see living cells was Van Leeuwenhoek, a microscope
builder.
The Cell Theory Timeline
Year of
Discovery
1595
1665
1674
1676
1683
1838
1839
1855
Richard Rasmussen
Scientist
Contribution
produced the first
Hans and Zacharias
compound microscope by
Janssen
combining two convex
lenses within a tube
discovered the cellular
composition of cork and
Robert Hooke
introduced the word cell
to science
improved magnification
Anton van Leeuwenhoek of microscopes by
polishing lenses
"animacules" were
Anton van Leeuwenhoek
discovered
discovered bacteria from
Anton van Leeuwenhoek a sample of saliva from
his mouth
discovered the plants
Matthias Schleiden
were made up of cells
discovered that animals
Theodor Schwann
were made up of cells
stated that all living
Rudolph Virchow
things come from other
living things