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1350 BCE
Aristotle
Through his study of embryos he articulated principles of generation. He made up spontaneous generation. The notion of life arising from non-living things. -
Zacharias Jansen
He invented the compound optical microscope which made it easier and more practical to observe cells. His invention helped deny the theory of Spontaneous Generation. Scientists used his microscope to look at cells. -
Jan Baptist van Helmont
He helped make an early contribution to photosynthesis. He noticed that maggots only appeared on the uncovered meant which helped disprove spontaneous generation. -
Robert Hooke
While observing through his microscope he discovered plant cells. It helped disprove spontaneous generation. -
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
He discovered the existence of single celled organisms. He helped disprove spontaneous generation. -
Lorenz Oken
He stated that all living organisms originate from and consist of cells. That may have been the first statement of cell theory. His experiments helped disprove spontaneous generation even though he believed in it himself. -
Robert Brown
His discovery of the nucleus in cells contributed to cell theory. This helped further disprove spontaneous generation because it is the second half of cell theory. -
Matthias Schleiden
He concluded that all plants are made of cells. Helped disprove spontaneous generation. -
Theodor Schwann
He stated that plant tissue was made up of cells. He demonstrated the same fact but for animal tissue. He then figured out that all tissue is made up of cells. His studies of yeast fermentation provided evidence against spontaneous generation. -
Albrecht von Roelliker
He discovered that sperm and eggs are also cells. This helped disprove spontaneous generation. -
Carl Heinrich Braun
He changed the cell theory defining cells as the basic unit of life. It helped disprove spontaneous generation. -
Rudolf Virchow
He made the discovery that cells arise from pre-existing cells. His work helped with the study of disease in the cellar level. He helped disprove spontaneous generation. -
Louis Pasteur
He disproved spontaneous generation and learned that cells would only grow on broth if it was exposed to air.