Discoveries of

the Cell Theory

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The Cell
Theory A
Timeline

With permission: bujols via Slide Share

How it all started 
Anton Van What is a
Romans Leeuwenhoek Theory?
When Romans He figured how to A set of principles
discovered they were grind glass together developed over time
able to make glass in and decided to via multiple
the 1st century BC, experiment. investigations.
things changed for the Leeuwenhoek made The discovery of the
better! his own 270x cell was made through
magnification the invention of the
compound microscope between
microscope! 1665-1838.
Today, microscopes
magnifications range © Copyright 2015 – All rights reserved.
Anton von Leeuwenhoek (1673)

• Looked at pond water

organisms
• First to see living
microscopic organisms.
• Made careful sketches.
 The Cell Theory
There are 3 major parts of the cell theory:
• All living things are composed of one or
more cells.
• The cell is the basic unit of life in all living
things.
• New cells are produced from existing cells.
 contributors
There are 5 contributors to the cell theory:
1. Robert Hooke
2. Anton van Leeuwenhoek
3. Matthias Schleiden
4. Theodor Schwann
5. Rudolf Virchow
Each of the above contributors produced
evidence through investigations and
experiments that led to today’s cell theory!
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 Robert Hooke English Scientist
o Used the compound microscope to observe
cork.
o Hooke observed that cork is composed of
small, hollow compartments.
o The parts prompted Hooke to think of small
rooms (cells) in a monastery, so he gave
them the same name: CELLS.
o Investigated cork through
experimenting with the compound
microscope and came up with the name
cells!
[Link]
wiki/Robert_Hooke Key Note: Hooke discovered the cell in
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Robert Hooke ( 1665)

• Used light microscope to

look at thin slices of plant
tissues -- cork
• Looked empty, like monk’s
chamber
• Called tiny chambers “cells”
 Cork
[Link]
ki/File:Cork_oak_trunk_section.jpg

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 Hooke’s
Investigation/experiment

Hooke’s Observations Hooke’s Microscope

[Link] [Link]
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Anton von Leeuwenhoek (1673)

• Looked at pond water

organisms
• First to see living
microscopic organisms.
• Made careful sketches.
Anton van Leeuwenhoek
Dutch Tradesman

o Study new approaches for creating lenses to

observe cloth.
o Leeuwenhoek’s microscope was more powerful
than Hooke’s compound microscope.
o From investigating and experimenting
with his microscope, Leeuwenhoek
became one of the first scientists to refer
to living cells when he observed an
abundant number of single-celled
organisms, which he called animalcules
(plant & animal), swimming in a drop of
pond water!

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 Leeuwenhoek’s
investigations/experiment
Leeuwenhoek’s Observations Leeuwenhoek’s Microscope

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Matthias Schleiden
German Scientist
o Fascinated with plant cells, Schleiden
used the compound microscope and
studied plant cells.
o From investigating and
experimenting with plants, projected
plant parts are made of cells!
o Discussed what he observed with his dear
friend, German scientist Theodor
Schwann.

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 Matthias Schleiden -- 1838
• German Botanist
(studied plants)
• Viewed plant parts
under a microscope
• Discovered that plant
parts are made of cells
• He concluded:
“All plants are made of
cells.”
Theodor Schwann
German Scientist
o Studied plant & animal cells, and was
intrigued by the similarities between the
two.
o From investigating and experimenting
with plant & animal cells, Schwann
was able to determine that all animals
are made of cells!
o Schwann published the 1st statement of the
cell theory: all living things are made of
cells and cell products!
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 Theodore Schwann -- 1839

• German scientist who

studied animals - zoologist
• Saw that all animals he
studied were cellular so
concluded:
“All animals are made
of cells.”
Rudolf Virchow
o Based on his investigations
and experiments, he stated
that all cells come from
preexisting cells, which is
the 2nd part of the cell
theory: all existing cells are
produced by other living
Key Note: After Virchow’s completed
cells!
his
work, the cell theory was finally
formulated in 1838! © Copyright 2015 – All rights reserved.
 Rudolf Virchow - 1855
• German physician
who studied cell
reproduction
• “Where a cell
exists, there
must have been
a preexisting
cell.”
 Recap
Contributo Eye-
Cell Theory rs Catchers
There are 3 major parts of the Robert Hooke
cell theory: There are 5 contributors o came up with the name cells

1. All organisms are made to the cell theory: Anton Van Leeuwenhoek
of cells. 1. Robert Hooke o referred to living cells called
animalcules (plant & animal) after
2. All existing cells are observing a drop of pond water
produced by other 2. Anton van Matthias Schleiden
living cells. Leeuwenhoek o projected plant cells are made of
cells
3. The cell is the most 3. Matthias Schleiden Theodor Schwann
basic unit of life.
These three parts were
4. Theodor Schwann o determined all animals are made of
cells (1st statement of the cell
theory)
discovered between 1665- 5. Rudolf Virchow
1838. Rudolf Virchow
o stated all cells come from
Key Note: It took over 173 years for the preexisting cells (2nd statement of
the cell theory)
cell THEORY to be formulated, wow!
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 Two Types of Cells
• Eukaryotic
• Are complex and of different types.
• Have a nucleus and many organelles.
• Contain more DNA due to different jobs
within the cell. DNA is linear (in a line).
• Possess a cell membrane or a cell wall.
• All living things other than bacteria.
• Prokaryotic
• Contain no nucleus.
• Have no membrane
covered organelles,
but do have
ribosomes to make
protein.
• Possess circular
DNA.
• Are bacteria.
 Cell Similarities
• Cells come in many shapes and sizes with different duties
but …
• All are surrounded with a cell membrane
• All cells have hereditary material (DNA)
• All have cytoplasm and organelles. Cytoplasm is the fluid
within a cell which provides a safe environment for the
organelles. Organelles are the structures within the cell that
have specific duties to make the cell a functioning unit.
 Exit Ticket

1. Name the 3 major parts of the cell theory.

2. Name the 5 contributors of the cell theory.

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3. The cell theory is composed of
how many parts?

4. How many contributors help

compile today’s cell theory?

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