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Galileo Galilei invented the first device known as a microscope
Although microscope-like devices have been used for thousands of years, Galileo Galilei perfected the first device actually known as a microscope. This allows people to be able to see microorganisms up close and more accurately identify it and its functions. -
The word "cell" is created from the Latin "cella"
A word was needed to describe the items studied in micrology, so the word "cell" was created from the Latin "cella". This is important because we now have a distinct term we can use that instantly means we're talking about cells. -
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek says to the Royal Society that the particles he found in his tests were living organisms
Leeuwenhoek found cells and with his own microscope observed that there were motile objects in the bacteria. This is important because it started modern cell research. -
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Felice Fontana and Robert Brown found the nucleus to be important to cells
Felice Fontana and Robert Brown both noticed a nucleus when studying cells and proposed that it was one of the most important parts of a cell. This is important because the nucleus is the command center for a cell. -
Theodor Schwann says tissue is made up of cells
While conducting research, Theodor Schwann, a German scientist, found that all tissues are made up of cells. This is important because we now know that cells make up all bodily organs and tissues. -
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Robert Remak, Rudolf Virchow, and Albert Kölliker showed that cells are formed through scission of existing cells
The three men noticed in their research that cells reproduced via splitting from one another. This is important because it shows that although cells reproduce, they do so asexually. -
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Santiago Ramón y Cajal
Santiago Ramón y Cajal was one of the major supporters of the neuron theory and did many neurological investigations and jumpstarted neuron research. This is important because his investigations are the backbone of modern neuroscience. -
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More parts of the cell are identified
As cell research continued, more and more parts of the cell were discovered. This is important because once different parts of the cell were discovered, it allowed for more observations to be made and paved the way for future micrologists and researchers. -
Wilhelm His says the nerve cell body and its prolongations form an independent body
With more cell discoveries, it was initially thought that the nervous system was an exception to the cell theory. However, this was debunked by His, who found that the nerve tissue was made up of cells too. This is important because it supports the claim that all tissue is made up of cells -
Camillo Golgi discovered the Golgi apparatus
During an investigation, Camilo Golgi discovered the Golgi apparatus, which packaged and processes proteins. This is important because the Golgi apparatus is an integral part of cell functions.