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Robert Hooke
Observed cork cells from an oak tree and was the first to coin the term 'cells." Also, Hooke became the first to publish drawings of cells. -
Francesco Redi
In 1668 he tested his ideas that life came from life, being the first to experimentally disprove spontaneous generation. -
Schleiden and Schwaan
Began development of the cell theory through their observations and contributions of their work with plant and animal cells. -
Rudolf Virchow
Proposed the theory of biogenesis (that organisms only arise from other organisms). -
Louis Pasteur
Pasteur asserted that fermentation is caused by the growth of micro-organisms, and growth of bacteria in nutrient broths is not due to spontaneous generation, but rather to biogenesis (life from life). -
Cell Theory Today
1) All living organisms are composed of cells. 2) The cell is the basic unit of life. 3) Cells arise from pre-existing cells.
