General Biology 1

Cell Theory
 LESSON 1 - CELL THEORY

In your previous years, you learn that all living organisms are made up of cells. Some
organisms consist of one cell; others have more. Your body, for example, has trillions of cells
while elephants and whales have gazillions of cells in their bodies. Cells vary in size, shape,
and function but there are parts and characteristics common to all of them. Cells are very,
very small that we cannot see merely by our naked eyes. In order to view cells, we must use
magnifying tools called microscopes. The first compound microscope is invented by Jansen
but it not clear. It takes one century, after Robert Hooke discovered cells in a piece of cork
using his primitive microscope. Years later, Anton von Leeuwenhoek develops a more
powerful microscope that allows him to see detailed cell structures like bacteria. In this
module, you will know more about cells and the people behind the discovery and
development of cells. This lesson offers activities that help you to trace the landmarks of the
study and understand the postulates of the cell theory. Are you ready for it? Then, be
prepared to learn and accomplish the tasks ahead.

Learning Task 1: One.. Two.. Trace..

Directions. Arrange the following events to trace the development of the Cell Theory. Number
the triangle from 1 – 7.

Anton von Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723), a Dutch businessman and a

contemporary of Hooke used his own (single lens) monocular microscopes and
was the first person to observe bacteria and protozoa. Leeuwenhoek looked at
animal and plant tissues, at mineral crystals, and at fossils. He was the first to see
microscopic single celled protists with shells, the foraminifera, which he described
as "little cockles. . . no bigger than a coarse sand-grain." He discovered blood cells
and was the first to see living sperm cells of animals. He discovered microscopic
animals such as nematodes (round worms) and rotifers. The list of his discoveries
is long. Leeuwenhoek soon became famous as his letters were published and
translated. In 1680 he was elected a full member of the Royal Society.

In 1663 an English scientist, Robert Hooke, discovered cells in a piece of

cork, which he examined under his primitive microscope. Actually, Hooke only
observed cell walls because cork cells are dead and without cytoplasmic contents.
Hooke drew the cells he saw and also coined the word CELL. The word cell is
derived from the Latin word 'cellula' which means small compartment. Hooke
published his findings in his famous work, Microqraphia: Physiological
Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses (1665).

Credit for the first compound (more than one lens) microscope is usually
given to Zacharias Jansen, of Middleburg, Holland, around the year 1595. Since
Jansen was very young at that time, it's possible that his father Hans made the
first one, but young Jansen perfected the production. Details about the first Jansen
microscopes are not clear, but there is some evidence which allows us to make
some guesses about them (Jansen microscopes).
 Around 1833 Robert Brown reported the discovery of the nucleus. Brown
was a naturalist who visited the "colonies of Australia" from 1801 through 1805,
where he cataloged and described over 1,700 new species of plants. Brown was
an accomplished technician and an extraordinarily gifted observer of microscopic
phenomena.

The cell theory was refined further in 1858, when another German
biologist, Rudolf Virchow presented the idea “Omnis Cellula e Cellula” and gave
the idea that all cells arise from pre-existing cells. Thus, this breakthrough paved
way to Modern Cell Theory.

In 1839, Schwann recognized a cell-like character of certain animal

tissues. Schwann felt that this similarity could not be mere coincidence, and it
seemed to fit when Schleiden called his attention to the nucleus. Then at once
he reasoned that if there really is the correspondence between vegetable and
animal tissues that he suspected, and if the nucleus is so important in the
vegetable cell as Schleiden believed, the nucleus should also be found in the
ultimate particles of animal tissues.

It was the German professor of botany at the University of Jena, Dr.

Matthias J. Schleiden, who brought the nucleus to popular attention, and asserted
its all-importance in the function of a cell. He outlined his views in an epochal
paper published in Muller's Archives in 1838, under title of "Beitrage zur
Phytogenesis." This paper itself of value, yet the most important outgrowth of
Schleiden's observations of the nucleus did not spring from his own labors, but
from those of a friend to whom he mentioned his discoveries the year previous
their publication.

ASSESSMENT:
Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. The scientist who first see and identify the cork “cells” using a microscope was _____
A. Anton Von Leeuwenhoek C. Robert Brown
B. Robert Hooke D. Matthias Schleiden

2. What tools were first used by the scientist to observe and describe the microscopic
organisms and living cells possible?
A. Magnifying lens and light microscopes
B. Electron microscope and electron micrographs
C. Magnifying lens and electron microscope
D. Light microscope and electron micrograph

3. Which of the following are the scientists who directly contributed to the evidence of cellular
theory?
A. Matthias Schleiden, Theodore Schwann, and Anton von Leeuwenhoek
B. Rudolf Virchow, Robert Brown and Theodore Schwann
 C. Anton Von Leeuwenhoek, Matthias Schleiden and Robert Brown
D. Matthias Schleiden, Theodore Schwann, and Rudolf Virchow,

4. Which of the following statement DOES NOT belong to the postulates of cell theory?
A. All living organisms are composed of cells and a cell is the basic structural and
functional unit.
B. Cells are the building blocks of living organism.
C. New cells are produced from pre-existing cells.
D. Cells form by free-cell formation or spontaneous generation.
5. Which is the correct order of the events in the development of cell theory?

I. Anton van Leeuwenhoek designed an improved microscope and observed first free-
living cells.
II. Robert Hooke observed dead cells in a thin cork slice through a self-made
microscope. III. Robert Brown discovered nucleus.
IV. Matthias Schleiden and Theodore Schwann proposed cell theory.
V. Rudolf Virchow gave the idea that all living cells arise from pre-existing cells.

A. II, I, III, IV, V B. I, II, III, IV, V C. V, IV, III, II, I D. II, III, I, IV, V

Prepared by: John Carlo L. Rollon

References for learners

Cell Theory and Cell Organelles by: Christopher Meisler Science Methods. Retrieved from
https://www.bemidjistate.edu/academics/departments/science/k12-scienceunits/Celll-theoy-
and-organelles-biology.pdf