Topic:
Cell Theory
Learning Objective/Outcomes:
Understand that all organisms are composed of one or more cells.
Explain the three parts of cells theory.
Keywords/Questions
Notes
Who is Robert Hooke?
Where did Hooke
come up with the
name for cells?
What are cells?
List characteristics of
cells.
What are the three
main ideas of the cell
theory?
Who created the cell
theory?
Robert Hooke, an English scientist in 1665, was the first person to describe
cells using a microscope
Looking at a thin slice of cork he was reminded of little rooms in a monastery
so he named them cellula or small room in Latin now called cells
The smallest living biological structure, and most are microscopic
Surrounded by a plasma membrane with internal structures suspended in
cytoplasm.
All organisms are made of one or more cells
Cells are the basic building blocks of life
All cells come from existing cells
Robert Hooke
Summary
Cells were discovered to be the smallest unit of life by Robert Hooke in 1665. After their discovery,
scientists, Schwann and Rudolph, developed the cell theory which has held true to this day. Their
main points included that all organisms are made of one or more cells, cells are the basic building
block of life, and that all cells come from existing cells.
