Cell Theory

Aristotle

340 BCE

Theorized how animals and plants developed through preformation and epigenesis.
Believed in spontaneous generation.

Zacharias Jansen

Nov 9, 1590

Believed to be the first person to invent the compound microscope. Believed in spontaneous generation

Jan Baptist van Helmont

Nov 9, 1620

Believed in spontaneous generation. Said if you put a rag over a pot of rice you will create mice in 21 days.
Believed in spontaneous generation.

Robert Hooke

Nov 9, 1665

Looked at a cork under a microscope and discovered cells.
Spontaneous generation.

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

Nov 9, 1674

Adjusted the original microscope.
Did not believe in spontaneous generation.

Lorenz Oken

Nov 9, 1802

Stated that all cells originate from and consist of cells.
Did not believe in spontaneous generation.

Robert Brown

Nov 9, 1833

Discovered the nucleus in plant cells
Did not believe in spontaneous generation.

Theodor Schwann

Nov 9, 1837

Contributed to the cell theory by stating that cells were the basic unit of structure in living things.
Did not believe in spontaneous generation.

Matthias Schleiden

Nov 9, 1839

Applied cell theory to plants.
Did not believe in spontaneous generation.

Albrecht von Roelliker

Nov 9, 1840

Discovers sperm and eggs are also cells.
Did not believe in spontaneous generation.

Rudolf Virchow

Nov 9, 1855

Endorsed cell division and the role it plays.
Did not believe in spontaneous generation.

Louis Pasteur

Nov 9, 1864

Learned that microorganisms spoil food.
Did not believe in spontaneous generation.