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Robert Hooke coined the term "cell"
Robert Hooke looked at plant cells beneath a microscope and commented that the the shape of the cells reminded him of monks' cells in a monastary. Thus the term "cell" now described the smalled unit of life. -
Anton von Leeuwenhock observed single-celled protozoa
von Leeuwenhock built his own microscope and used it to observe pond water. Here he saw the first living single-celled animals, later known as protozoa. He also used his microscope to look at red blood cells. -
Robert Brown discovered plant cell nucleus
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Matthias Jakob Schleiden claims that all plants are composed of cells
A German botanist, Matthias Jakob Schleiden studed many species of plants and their tissues. He makes the first generalized statement about cells. -
Theodor Schwann claims that all animals are composed of cells
A German psysiologist, Theodor Schwann studied animal tissues and made the second general statement regarding cells: all animals are composed of cells. Here, he stated that animals and plants are fundamentally the same. He also compiled all statements regarding cells into one, succint theory: The Cell Theory. -
Albrecht von Roelliker discovers that sperm and eggs are cells
Human reproduction is caused by the fusion of two cells. -
Carl Heinrich Braun calls cells the basic unit of life
Carl Heinrich Braun updates the Cell Theory -
Rudolf Virchow determined that all cells come from other cells
Adding the final part of the Cell Theory, Virchow observed diseased tissue and normal tissue and determined that cells can divide to produce more cells
