General

Biology 1 12
Earth Science – Grade 12
Quarter 1 – Module 2: Cell Theory
First Edition, 2020

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General
Biology 1 12
Quarter 1
Self-Learning Module 2

Cell Theory
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the General Biology 1 Self-Learning Module 2 on Cell Theory

This Self-Learning Module was collaboratively designed, developed and

reviewed by educators from the Schools Division Office of Pasig City headed by its
Officer-in-Charge Schools Division Superintendent, Ma. Evalou Concepcion A.
Agustin, in partnership with the City Government of Pasig through its mayor,
Honorable Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto. The writers utilized the standards set by the K
to 12 Curriculum using the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) in
developing this instructional resource.

This learning material hopes to engage the learners in guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Further, this also aims to help learners
acquire the needed 21st century skills especially the 5 Cs, namely: Communication,
Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Character while taking into
consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the
body of the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning. Moreover, you are expected to encourage and assist the
learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
 For the Learner:

Welcome to the General Biology 1 Self-Learning Module 2 on Cell Theory

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You
will be enabled to process the contents of the learning material while being an active
learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

Expectations - This points to the set of knowledge and skills

that you will learn after completing the module.

Pretest - This measures your prior knowledge about the lesson

at hand.

Recap - This part of the module provides a review of concepts

and skills that you already know about a previous lesson.

Lesson - This section discusses the topic in the module.

Activities - This is a set of activities that you need to perform.

Wrap-Up - This section summarizes the concepts and

application of the lesson.

Valuing - This part integrates a desirable moral value in the

lesson.

Posttest – This measures how much you have learned from the
entire module.
 EXPECTATIONS

The module is about the postulates of cell theory.

After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. identify the contributors in the development of microscope;
2. explain the postulates of cell theory; and
3. cite the importance of acknowledging contributors in discoveries.

PRETEST

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. A Dutch spectacle-maker that is known for the creation of early models of

telescope and compound microscope.
a. Antony Van Leewenhoek c. Guiseppe Campanim
b. Galileo Galilei d. Zacharias Janssen
2. He is known as the “Father of Microbiology” because of his discoveries of
bacteria and protozoa using his own microscope.
a. Antony Van Leewenhoek c. Guiseppe Campanim
b. Galileo Galilei d. Zacharias Janssen
3. Which of the following is NOT a postulate of the cell theory?
a. Cells can only come from other cells.
b. All living things are made up of cells.
c. Cells are the basic unit of life.
d. Cells must contain DNA.
4. Which makes all living things on Earth alike?
a. All living things are made of cells and come from other cells.
b. The cells of all living things have chloroplast.
c. All living things can move.
d. All living things have hair.
5. He insulted Newton by openly accusing him of plagiarizing his light-work.
a. Galileo Galilei c. Robert Remak
b. Robert Hooke d. Rudolf Virchow
 RECAP

Figure 1. Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea (source: Wikipedia.org)

One of the organisms found on the 25-kilometer long Pasig River is a plant
locally known as nila (Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea), also known as Ixora manila as
was first observed and described by Father Manuel Blanco. Father Blanco was an
Augustinian friar born in Spain and was assigned in the Philippines. He is also a
botanist and the author of the first comprehensive flora of the Philippines, Flora de
Filipinas. It documented around 900 plant species and varieties and their practical
use. It is in his assignment in Manila that he observed this mangrove shrub bearing
white flowers. There was plenty of nila in the area that our ancestors and some
historians claimed that the name of Manila came from the compound word “May-
nila” meaning “there is nila.”

Scyphiphora is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family of

Rubiaceae. A shrub that is about 3 m (10 feet) tall that has leaves that is opposite,
blade broadly drop-shaped. Its terminal buds and young leaves are coated with
varnish-like substance. Flowers occur in dense cluster at the leaf angles with 4 white
lobes tinged pink. It is a fruit bearing plant that is elliptic and deeply ridged
lengthwise, light brown and buoyant when ripe. Its wood is very hard and dark brown
and useful to craft small objects as well as fencing. The leaf extract is known to be
helpful in stomach aches. Mostly found along shores, swamps and tidal river margins
just like in the mouth of Pasig River going to Manila Bay.

Botanists have a laborious tasks of studying plants on molecular level from

its structure to genetic makeup and classifying to its order and genus; to the level of
social impact how plants affect human activity thru the different uses and
environment impact as well. Plants have varieties of use, from personal to public and
as food or ornament, there is no denying of fact the importance of its contribution on
different fields. Aside from these, plants are also used as model experiment in the
field of Biology. As we go along this module, let us try to find out how plants
contribute in the development of the widely accepted Cell Theory.

Activity 2.1. What do all characteristics of life have in common? Explain.

_________________________________________________________________________________

LESSON

Let us have first a review on the generally used instrument during the early
times for observing organisms in smaller details by scientists and naturalists.

DEVELOPMENT OF MICROSCOPE

The microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small to be
seen by the naked eye. If we go back to the history of the microscope, there are
different claims as to who really was its inventor. You have Zachrias Janssen, a
Dutch spectacle-maker who discovered the first compound microscope which was
later disputed as many had invented their own versions of glass lenses across Europe
to be used at that time. The main brass tube had a diameter of just one inch or two
and carried an ebony disk at its base and a lens at each end.
Next, we have Galileo Galilei. Although he is known for telescope, he was also
able to make his own microscope because of his knowledge about glass and focal
lengths. It has two new lenses same as his telescope: a bi-convex objective and a bi-
concave eyepiece. The fame of Galileo's optical instruments inspired a search for new
solutions. In the 1620s, microscopes of the Keplerian type, composed of convex
lenses that furnished a reversed image were developed.
Then, we have Antony van Leeuwenhoek. Instead of buying his own
microscope, he made his own very odd looking version. But, with his strange looking
microscope, he was able to discover bacteria and protozoa. Thus, he is now known
as the “Father of Microbiology”. As strange as his microscope is, he used his dental
scrapings or gunk on his teeth to look for bacteria and protozoa. He did not actually
call them bacteria but instead, he called it “animacules”. He was able to share all
these discoveries to one of his colleagues, Robert Hooke.
Robert Hooke then was able to coin the term “cell” by looking at a piece of cork
stripped from the trunk of the Cork Oak tree under his microscope. He got the term
cell while looking at the specimen, he noticed the little chambers which reminded
him of monastery cells, where monks used to sleep during that time. Unfortunately,
those are dead cells and what he saw are just walls of the plant cells. In January of
1665, his observations through various lenses were published in his book
Micrographia. It is particularly notable for being the first book to illustrate insects,
plants etc. as seen through microscopes.
 Figure 2. a. Zacharias Janssen microscope; b. Antony van Leeuwenhoek microscope; c. Robert Hooke microscope
(source: Wikimedia.org)

FORMATION OF POSTULATES OF CELL THEORY

It is imperative that we talk about first the instrument used to help scientists
with their study of organisms in molecular level. It is in this level that they were able
to establish the postulates for this theory.

Figure 3. a. Cover page of Micrographia; b. The Flea (source: Wikemedia.org)

Despite the publication of Micrographia, it is not after almost 200 years that
a breakthrough was made. Matthias Schlieden, a German botanist who loves
observing his plants under the microscope, noticed that every plant is made up of
cells. On the other hand, zoologist Theodor Schwann also studied different animals
using his microscope and later on concluded that animals are made up of cells. He
discovered a type of cell that was named after him because of his prolific study of
cells. It is the Schwann cells with the main function of myelinating the axons of the
peripheral nervous system. Later on, Theodor wrote about his observations and sent
it to his fellow scientists. With this, it is only Schlieden who responded and the two
of them started working on their theories. First is that the cell is the unit of structure,
physiology, and organization in living things and second is that the cells retains a
dual existence as a distinct entity and building block in the construction of
organisms. Everything seems to be going well until they argue on this one - where
cells came from. Schlieden rejected Schwann’s idea and stated that his theory is
about free cell formation – that it just kind of spontaneously crystalized into
existence.
This is where another scientist came up with his “own” theory, Rudolf
Virchow. He is known as the “Father of Modern Pathology”. He studied medicine in
Berlin and then spent most of his life teaching there. Together with Benino
Reinhardt, they founded Archiv für Pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie (now
known as “Virchow’s Archives”) which still survives as a leading journal of pathology.
He taught several persons who became famous scientists in Germany and William
Welch and William Osler, 2 of the 4 famous physicians who founded Johns Hopkins
Hospital. He published his now famous aphorism “omnis cellula e cellula” which
means “every cell stems from another cell.”
 These are the different events that lead to the formation of the Postulates of
Cell Theory.
1. All known living things are made up of cells.
2. The cell is a structural and functional unit of all living things.
3. All cells come from pre-existing cells by division.

Figure 4. a. living things are made up of cells; b. cell is a structural and functional; c. cells by division (source: Flickr.com
and Wikimedia.org)

Continued research and with advancement of technologies, additional postulates

were added:
1. All cells contain hereditary information which is passed from cell to cell
during division.
2. All cells are basically the same in chemical composition.
3. All energy flow of life occurs within cells.

ACTIVITIES

Activity 2.2. Let’s recall the history of the microscope by finding the concealed words
in the table. They may be arranged vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Encircle
these hidden words.
M A B F G C D I J A
I I L V W L L E C B
C D C O H N M L K C
R O O R O M U I E D
O Z M X O Y V L B J
B E P I K S O A U A
I Y O K E H C G B N
O N U L N T O O Q S
L O N M E R T E P S
O T D R S A U L V E
G N I K N L M I W N
Y A T I R Q N L X O
 U V S B S D F A Y P
R T Q P L M K G Z I
Activity 2.3. Answer the following items using the words you found in the previous
activity.
_____1. It is an instrument used to see objects that are too small to be seen by the
naked eye.
_____2. Last name of a Dutch spectacle-maker who discovered the compound
microscope.

_____3. He was known for his telescope and was able to make his own microscope
using his knowledge about glass and focal lengths.
_____4. First name of a scientist who made his own very odd microscope and discover
protozoa.

_____5. The term we use today which was being called by a scientist as “animalcules”.
_____6. Leeuwenhoek is also known as the “Father of ______________”.

_____7. Last name of a scientist who was able to coin the term “cell” by looking at a
piece of cork under his microscope.
_____8. Schlieden is what kind of scientist who loves observing his plants under the
microscope.
_____9. Type of microscope which consist of an objective lens with a very short focal
length and an eyepiece with a longer focal length, both lenses mounted in the same
tube.
_____10. Term used by a scientist when he noticed little chambers while looking on
a specimen, also known as the basic structural unit of all organisms.

Activity 2.4. Fill in the blanks.

Name of Scientist Year Contribution

Zacharias Janssen 1590

Robert Hooke

-Handmade microscope and

discovered bacteria &
protozoa called animalcules
-“Father of Microbiology”
Matthias Schleiden

Theodor Schwann 1839

-“Father of Modern
Pathology”
 -Concluded that cells must
arrive from pre-existing cells

WRAP-UP

Activity 2.5. Complete the following statements:

I now know something about _____________________________________________________

First, ____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Second, _________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Further, _________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Finally, __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________
Now you know what I know something about _____________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

VALUING
Give credit to whom it is due
Throughout the course of history, whether it is about society, literature and
politics, there are conflicts of different claims that may lead to controversies. Some
are still under debate but there are times that it is still resolved on appropriate
manner. Even histories and discoveries in science do not escape these different
claims especially when it comes to inventions. Let us try to find out some of these
events.
First is Robert Hooke and Isaac Newton. Hooke had himself been a brilliant
scientist. Although rivals, Hooke- unlike Newton whose scientific research
concentrated on astronomy, mathematics and physics- had a wide range of
accomplishments and interests that ranged well beyond the domain of astronomy
and physics.
Rivalry between Hooke and Newton began in 1672, when Newton presented
the Royal Society with his first paper on optics. He argued in his paper that light was
made of seven colors of the light spectrum composed of particles and white light.
Most of the fellows in the society, including Hooke, disagreed with this theory. Hooke
assumed that light did not consist of particles but instead a wave. But as of today,
both theories about light is correct. Then in 1676, Hooke insulted Newton by openly
accusing him of plagiarizing his light-work. By exchanging hostile letters for the next
few years, the two men continued their rivalry until Newton had a nervous
breakdown in 1678 and decided to withdraw from public life altogether. In 1684,
Hooke states that gravity is applied to all celestial bodies and that the force of gravity
between bodies decreases with the distance between them. If the force were to be
removed, the celestial bodies would move in straight lines. So Hooke thought Newton
failed to give him enough credit for his ideas about gravity when Newton published
Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica.

Secondly, Robert Remak and Rudolf Virchow. Remak was a Jewish Polish-
German embryologist, physiologist, and neurologist, who discovered that the origin
of cells was by the division of pre-existing cells. Remak had concluded this after
observing red blood cells from chicken embryos in various stages of division. He then
confirmed that the phenomenon existed in the cell of every frog's egg immediately
after fertilization, proving that this was a universal phenomenon. Notwithstanding
his accomplishments, he was repeatedly refused full professorship status at
University of Berlin, because of his Jewish identity and eventually late in life, he was
appointed assistant professor, becoming the first Jew to teach in that university. He
was never completely credited for his findings back then but it was Virchow that was
given credited- his junior by six years.

No-one can deny both rivalries were brilliant scientists and doctors who
deserve the utmost respect for their contributions from the scientific community.
They also had their weaknesses, however, and resorted to petty rivalry. It goes to
show that even people with the brightest minds are human after all.

Activity 2.6. Essay.

1. Would it have been beneficial for science if both Hooke and Newton worked
together with their corresponding theories about light and gravity? Explain.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. Have you experienced not be given due recognition for your contribution? How did
you manage it?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
 POSTTEST
Choose the letter of the best answer. Write answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. His microscope has a main brass tube had a diameter of just one inch or two
and carried an ebony disk at its base and a lens at each end.
a. Antony Van Leewenhoek c. Guiseppe Campanim
b. Galileo Galilei d. Zacharias Janssen
2. His microscope has two new lenses same as his telescope: a bi-convex objective
and a bi-concave eyepiece.
a. Antony Van Leewenhoek c. Guiseppe Campanim
b. Galileo Galilei d. Zacharias Janssen
3. Which of the following is TRUE about Schlieden and Schwann’s discoveries?
a. Free cell formation.
b. Every cell stems from another cells.
c. Cell organelles that combine to form nuclei.
d. Cell is the unit structure, physiology and organization of living things.
4. Which of the following does not belong to the group?
a. All energy flow of life occurs within cells.
b. Cells that make up tissues and structures
c. Cells are basically the same in chemical composition
d. Cells contain hereditary information which is passed from cell to cell during
division
5. A scientist who was not given due credit because of his religion?
a. Galileo Galilei c. Robert Remak
b. Robert Hooke d. Rudolf Virchow
 KEY TO CORRECTION

PRETEST ACTIVITY 2.3

1. D
1. MICROSCOPE 6. MICROBIOLOGY
2. A
2. ZACHARIAS JANSSEN 7. HOOKE
3. C
3. GALILEO GALILEI 8. BOTANIST
4. A
4. ANTHONY VAN LEEWENHOEK 9. COMPOUND
5. B
5. BACTERIA 10. CELL
POSTEST
1. D
2. B
3. D
4. B
5. C

References

Filipiknow. 2018. 10 Amazing Things We No Longer See In Pasig River. October 7.

https://filipiknow.net/facts-about-pasig-river/.
Moiz, Aimah. 2018. "Bitter Rivals: Hooke vs. Newton." Spectra Magazine, August 19:
2.
Reece, Jane B., Urry, Lisa A., Michael L. Cain, Steven A., Minorsky, Peter V.
Wasserman, and Jackson Robert B. 2011. Biology, Ninth Edition. San
Francisco: Pearson.
Roces, Alejandro R. 2009. "Pasig's Place in history." Philippine Star, July 2: 2.
Tejero, Constantino C. 2017. "Reissue of Fr. Manuel Blanco’s ‘Flora de Filipinas’
drives culturati agog." Inquirer, May 22: 2.