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Discovery of Cells

authorImageJasdeep Bhatia2 Apr, 2024
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Discovery of Cells

Discovery of Cells : The cell is too tiny to be seen without a microscope. Despite their modest size, cells play a crucial role in maintaining life. Humans are living organisms comprised of cells, just like everything else. As we recognise it, life would not exist without cells since cells are the foundation of existence.

Robert Hooke initially identified the cell in 1665. He saw it resembled cellula or tiny apartments occupied by monks,and  from there, the term was derived. However, under a microscope, Hooke observed the dead cell walls of plant cells (cork). In Micrographia, these discoveries were published by Hooke. Antonie Van Leuwenhoek made more discoveries by creating microscope lenses that were more effective than the microscopes of his day. He was the first to view live bacterial and human cells using a microscope. Let us discuss the history of Cell discovery in detail.

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Cell Theory

1. Early Cell Theory

The first widely accepted theory on cells was given by Schleiden and Schwann in 1838. They distilled their findings regarding cells into three generalisations:
  • The unit of organisation, physiology, and structure of living things is the cell.
  • The cell can exist independently as an individual entity or as a component of organisms.
  • Similar to the formation of crystals, cells develop through free-cell formation (spontaneous generation).
Later, the postulate of Spontaneous Generation was rejected because of the discoveries by Rudolf Virchow, who stated ‘Omnis cellula e cellula’ implies that cells can only emerge from pre-existing cells, and the Modern Cell Theory was enacted.

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2. Modern Cell Theory

  • Cells are the building blocks of all known living organisms.
  • The structural and functional foundation of all living things is the cell.
  • By dividing, all cells are created from pre-existing cells. (There is no spontaneous generation.)
  • When cells divide, genetic information is transferred from one cell to the next.
  • Chemically, all cells are essentially the same.
  • Cells are where all life's energy flow (metabolism and biochemistry) occurs.

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Cell Discovery Landmarks

Year Landmark Discovery
1595 The first compound microscope was designed by Jansen.
1625 The theory of Spontaneous regeneration was rejected by Rudi.
1655 Dead cells were observed under a microscope by Robert Hooke.
1674 Powerful microscope was designed by Anton von Leuvenhook to observe live cells. This led to the discovery of Protozoa.
1833 Live cells of the Orchid were used by Robert Brown to observe the nucleus.
1838 The cell theory written by Schleiden and Schwann was published.
1961 First stem cells were discovered by Ernest Mcculloch and James Till.
1981 Techniques were developed to extract stem cells from mice embryos.
1991 Techniques were identified to extract stem cells from human embryos.

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Discovery of Cell

If improvements to the microscope had not been made, the discovery of the cell would not have been accomplished.
  • To better understand the microscopic world, scientist Robert Hooke improved the design of the earlier compound microscope in 1665.
  • His microscope used three lenses and a stage light to enlarge and illuminate the specimens.
  • When Hooke examined a piece of cork under the microscope, he could see something astonishing because of these advancements.
  • Hooke wrote about his findings of this tiny, previously undiscovered world in his book Micrographia.
  • He thought the cork was made of tiny holes, which he called "cells" since they reminded him of monastery cells.
  • Two German scientists, Theodore Schwann and Mattias Schleiden, studied the cells of plants and animals, respectively. These scientists concluded that the two types of cells were quite different and suggested that cells served as the fundamental units of both plants and animals.

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Stem Cell Discovery

One hundred years after the discovery of the cell, the discovery of stem cells—the undifferentiated cells that have not yet developed into more specialised cells—showed how the discovery of the cell continues to influence research. In the 1980s, researchers started obtaining embryonic stem cells from mice. In 1998, James Thomson obtained human embryonic stem cells and created cell lines. The journal Science later published an article based on his study. Later, it was found that adult tissues, often skin, could be reprogrammed into stem cells, which could subsequently give rise to various cell types. Many diseases, including heart disease and Alzheimer's, are now treated with stem cells.

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Characteristics of Cells

Cells have the following characteristics-
  • Highly Complex and Organized.
  • The Ability of Cells to Reproduce on their own.
  • A Variety of Chemical Reactions Are Performed by Cells.
  • Energy is acquired and used by cells, and each cell stores its genetic information.
  • Cells can react to Stimuli and perform mechanical activities.
  • Self-regulation is a function of cells, and cells may evolve.
Both animal and plant cells have certain components that maintain the cell's structure, provide integrity and assist the cell in performing in functions. These components include-
  • Nucleus: All eukaryotic cells have a double-membraned organelle called the nucleus. It is the biggest organelle, serves as a DNA repository and control center for cellular operations, and is covered by the Nuclear Membrane.
  • Chromosomes: Chromosomes are tiny, thread-like organelles that store the gene, a vital biological component. In organisms, genes are regarded as a genetic unit that aids in transmitting features from one generation to the next. Thus, the nucleus can regulate the traits and functions of the cells in our body.
  • Golgi Complex: Golgi complex is a membrane-bound organelle mostly made up of cisternae, a series of flattened and stacked pouches. This organelle is largely responsible for transporting, packaging and altering proteins and lipids for specific locations.
  • Mitochondria: Mitochondria are the cell's powerhouse because they can create high energy molecules. It is a sausage-shaped, double membrane-bound organelle in practically all eukaryotic cells.
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum: The Endoplasmic Reticulum is an organelle in cells comprising a network of fluid-filled membranous canals. They are the cells' internal transportation system that moves materials around the cell.
  • Ribosomes: Non-membrane-bound cytoplasmic organelles known as ribosomes are significant cytoplasmic organelles near the endoplasmic reticulum. Many different types of cells include microscopic particles called ribosomes that are mostly made of RNA and protein.
  • Cell wall: This is a hard outer protective covering generally made of cellulose and is found in plant and bacterial cells but absent in most animal cells. Its main function is to protect the cell from the outside environment.
  • Cell membrane: Found in all living cells, this layer inside the cell wall acts as a semi-permeable membrane, allowing the cell to uptake nutrients, minerals, and water as required.

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Types of Cell

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are two different kinds of cells. Although prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have different shapes, they are quite similar in their molecular makeup and functions. Most compounds found in cells are proteins, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids. The Prokaryotic cells lack a true nucleus, and the genetic material is present directly in the cytoplasm. Membrane-bound organelles are also absent in these cells, making them less organised. Eukaryotic cells are more advanced with true nuclei, membrane-bound organelles, and highly organised behavior.

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The Eukaryotic cells are further divided into plant cells and animal cells. Plant cells have cell walls, definite shapes, large vacuoles, and the capacity for photosynthesis and respiration. Animal cells do not have a cell wall, are irregularly shaped, and are not capable of carrying out photosynthesis.

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Discovery of Cells <span style=

Is life possible without cells?

All metabolic activities and chemical changes needed to sustain life occur inside the cell. Without cells, there will be no metabolism, and organism will not be able to survive. 

Which Scientist first discovered cells?

Robert Hooke first discovered cells in the year 1655 using a compound microscope. However, these cells were dead cork cells.

Which Scientist first discovered live cells?

Scientist Anton Von Leuvenhook first observed alive protozoan cells in the year 1674 using a microscope that he designed himself. 

What is the contribution of cell discovery in modern medicine?

The discovery of cells eventually led to the discovery of stem cells which are pluripotent and capable of treating genetic disorders, replacing damaged organs, and much more. 
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