BIO173 Biology

Cell Theory & Microscopy

Cell Theory

 When were cells discovered?

 Where does the term “cell” come from?

 Where do cells come from?

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

2
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Microscopy – The Compound Microscope

 1590 Zacharias Janssen

• Dutch spectacle makers experimenting with lenses
• Created first compound microscope (blurry, 9X)
• Compound lens system – uses two sets of lenses

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

3
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Microscopy – Discovery of Microbes
 1671 Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek
• Dutch draper – small lenses for cloth inspection
• First to make and use real microscope with superior single lenses
(270X)
• Expert at creating high quality lenses
• Saw things no one had every seen before (“animalcules”)
• Discovered the world of the microbes - “Father of Microbiology”

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

4
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Microscopy – The Cell
 1665 Robert Hooke
• Discovered the basic unit of life viewing cork cells
• Corks mesh reminded him of cells (small monastic rooms)
• Coined the term “cell” with improved microscopy

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

5
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Microscopy – The Nucleus
 1831 Robert Brown
• Scottish Botanist
• Microscopes with improved lenses
• Observed plant cells
• Discovered the Nucleus
• Called it a “Nucleus” after Latin “Nucula” for little nut

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

6
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Cell Theory
 1839 Schleiden and Schwann (German Scientists)
• Schleiden – different parts of plants composed of cells
• Dinner conversation between scientists
• Schwann – also true for animals
• Postulated all organisms consist of one or more cells
• Cell is the basic structure of all organisms

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

7
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Cell Theory
 1855 Virchow (German physician)
• All cells arise from pre-existing cells
• “Father of modern pathology”
• Origin of Cancers, Autopsy, Forensics
• Did not believe in germ theory of diseases

 1852 Remak (Jewish Polish-German embryologist)

• Binary Fission - observed dividing chicken RBCs

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

8
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Basis of Cell Theory

 All living organisms are composed of one or more cells

 The cell is the basic unit of life

 All new cells arise form existing cells

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

9
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Modern Cell Theory

 All living organisms are composed of one or more cells

 The cell is the basic unit of life

 All new cells arise form existing cells

 Activity of organism depends on total activity of independent cells

 Energy flow occurs within cells

 Cells contain chromosomes composed of DNA

 DNA is passed to their offspring during division

 All cells have the same basic chemical composition

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
10
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
Types of Cells

Prokaryotes
Small cells surrounded by a plasma membrane and a cell wall

No nucleus or organelles

Bacteria and Archaea domains

Eukaryotes

Larger cells surrounded by a plasma membrane

Have distinct nucleus and organelles

Eukarya domain

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

11
AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY