Cell Theory Lesson 1: Introduction to Cytology

Study Notes

Cell theory is foundational in biology, stating all organisms consist of cells, which are the structural and functional units of life.
Robert Hooke is recognized as the discoverer of the cell, coining the term "cell" from looking at cork in 1665 using a microscope.
His publication, Micrographia, was the first major release of the Royal Society and is notable for generating public interest in microscopy.

Anton van Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch scientist, is known as the "Father of Microbiology" for his improvements to the microscope and discovery of single-cell organisms, termed "animalcules."
Robert Brown, a Scottish botanist, discovered the nucleus within plant cells and described Brownian movement, the random motion of particles in a fluid.
Matthias Jakob Schleiden, a German botanist, asserted that all plant tissues are composed of cells and that every plant arises from a single cell.
Theodor Schwann, a German zoologist, proposed that all animal tissues are composed of cells and identified structural similarities between plant and animal cells.

Cells emerge from pre-existing cells through division, establishing that energy flow (metabolism) occurs within cells.
Cells hold hereditary information (DNA) that is transmitted during cellular division.

The first compound microscope, attributed to Zacharias Janssen, was created around 1595, with early magnifications ranging from 3X to 9X.
Notable microorganisms identified by van Leeuwenhoek include Actinophrys, Amoeba, Paramecium, and various other "animalcules," showcasing the diversity of cellular life.