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Discovery of First Compound Microscope
Zacharias Jansen, a spectacle maker, discovered the first compound microscope in the early 1600's in Netherlands. It is also believed that he discovered the first telescope. However, these claims are disputed, -
Discovery of Cells
Robert Hook discovered cells first in 1665 when he was observing a piece of cork under his microscope. He saw chambers that reminded him of cells that monks lived in and hence coined the term cell to these chambers. -
Discovery of Bacteria/Animacules
Antony Van Leeuwenhoek discovered Bacteria or what he called Animacules in 1676 through his self made microscope. He observed all kinds of things through his microscope including the gunk in his teeth. He discovered Bacteria through the gunk in his teeth. -
Discovery of Cell Theory
Matthias Schlieden and Theodore Schwann discovered the Cell Theory. Schlieden was a botanist that observed plants under a microscope. While observing, he found all plants to be made of cells. Schwann observed animal cells and also discovered special cells named Schwann Cells. He concluded all animals to be made of cells. He then started working on Cell theory with Schlieden. They disputed over whether cells came from pre-exisiting cells, -
Discovery of Cell Theory (Rudolf Virchow)
Rudolph Virchow stepped in to solve the dispute between Schwann and Schlieden. He validated Schwann's belief that all cells came from pre-existing ones. He validated this belief through research borrowed from Robert Remak which led to dispute between the two. -
Final Cell Theory
The Key Features of Cell Theory:
1) All organisms are made up of cells
2) All cells come from pre-existing cells
3) Cells are the most basic unit of all living things