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Hans and Zacharias Janssen invent the microscope
In the 1590's invented the compound optical microscope. The new microscope allowed later scientists to view cells more easily, more practically, and of course a lot better, which allowed for the development of the cell theory. -
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Cell Theory Development
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Robert Hooke makes a discovery
Using a primitive microscope Hooke examined a slice of cork and found honey-comb like structures. he named his new discovery "cells". -
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek is the first to observe bacteria and protozoa
Using the new microscope with lenses Leeuwenhoek observed living cells and published his findings in 1673. -
Matthias Jakob Schleiden
In 1838 Schleiden proposed the idea that all plant tissues are made up of 'cells' and that the cell was the basic building block of all plant matter. -
Theodor Schwann
In 1839 Schwann concluded that not only plant tissue but also animal tissues were composed of cells. -
Rudolph Virchow
In 1855 Virchow concluded that all cells come from existing cells, giving the famous line “omnis cellula e cellula”.