Who Discovered Cell and How?

The cell was discovered in 1665 by Robert Hooke, an English scientist. While examining a thin slice of cork under his self-designed compound microscope, he observed small, box-like structures. These compartments reminded him of tiny rooms in a monastery, which were called “cells”. Hence, he named them cells.

However, Hooke only observed the cell walls of dead cork cells, not living cells. Later, in 1674, Anton van Leeuwenhoek, using a more powerful microscope, was the first to observe living cells, such as bacteria and protozoa.

How Was the Cell Discovered?

1. Robert Hooke (1665):
   • Observed cork slice under microscope.
   • Coined the term cell.
2. Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1674):
   • Improved microscope design.
   • Discovered living cells (called them “animalcules”).
3. Further Contributions:
   • In the 19th century, Matthias Schleiden (plants) and Theodor Schwann (animals) proposed the Cell Theory, stating that all living beings are made of cells.
   • Later, Rudolf Virchow added that new cells arise from pre-existing cells.

The discovery of the cell began with Robert Hooke’s observation of cork cells in 1665 and was later advanced by Leeuwenhoek and other scientists. This discovery laid the foundation for modern biology and the Cell Theory, which remains central to our understanding of life.