CELL: Introduction, Discovery, Size and Cell Theory -
Introduction:
- A cell is the unit of a living thing.
- A living thing can be made up of one cell like a bacterium of many cells like a human. Irrespective of the number of cells, living things are referred to as organisms.
- Hence, the cell is the basic unit of an organism.
- A cell can be defined as the basic structural and functional unit of life.
- It is called the structural unit because it forms the body/structure of the organisms.
- It is called the functional unit because each cell is capable of performing the essential metabolic functions.
Discovery of Cell:
- In 1665, Robert Hooke first discovered the cell using his self-designed microscope. He observed the dead cells of cork of plants. He described his observation as empty cells and termed them as ‘cells’.
- In 1674, the documentation of live cells was made by Anton van Leeuwenhoek, who observed bacterial cells and algal cells.
In 1665, Robert Hooke first discovered the cell using his self-designed microscope. He observed the dead cells (only cell walls) of cork of plants. He described his observation as empty cells and termed them as ‘cells’.
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