History of the cell

First sighting of a cell

1665

Robert Hooke, using a rudimentary microscope observes a piece of cork, discovering small structures he called "cells"

Observation of living microorganisms

1674

Antoon van Leeuwenhoek "Father of microbiology", perfected the microscope of the time and observed, for the first time, living microorganisms which he called "animalcules"

Beggining of cell theory

1838

Matthias Schleiden proposed that all plants are made up of cells

Creation of the cell theory

1839

Theodor Schwann build upon Matthias Schleiden's initial idea onto the animal kingdom, concluding that all living organisms are made up of cells. They created the cell theory, which states the cell is the basic unit of life

Omnis cellula e cellula

1855

Rudolf Virchow added upon the cell theory by proposing that all cells come from other cells

Spontaneous generation theory refutal

1861

Louis Pasteur conducted experiments that refute the theory of spontaneous generation, showing that life comes from pre-existing organisms

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic classification

1937

Édouard Chatton introduced the terms "prokaryotic" and "eukaryotic", differentiating two types of cells due to the presence or absence of a nucleus

Discovery of DNA helical structure

1953

Rosalind Franklin, using an X-ray diffraction technique revealed the helical structure of DNA

Endosymbiotic theory

1981

Lynn Margulis proposed the endosymbiotic theory, which explains that eukaryotic cells evolved from symbiotic relationships with prokaryotic cells