Topic 1 Cells

Cells and Cell Theory

Cells Some interesting facts!

The average human being is composed of around 100 Trillion individual cells!!! It would take as many as 50 cells to cover the area of a dot on the letter i

Wow!

State a biological definition for the word, cell.

1610-Galileo made and used the first microscope. 1665-Robert Hooke, an English inventor and scientist, examined a piece of bark. Near the surface of the bark is a layer of cork (see right). Hooke cut a thin slice and placed it under a microscope which he made himself. He referred to the little boxes he saw as cells.

Robert Hooke & his Microscope

Anton van Leuwenhoek

1673- Used a handmade microscope to observe pond scum & discovered singlecelled organisms He called them animalcules He also observed blood cells from fish, birds, frogs, dogs, and humans Therefore, it was known that cells are found in animals as well as plants

Schleiden and Schwann

Development of the Cell Theory 1838- German Botanist, Matthias Schleiden, concluded that all plant parts are made of cells 1839- German Physiologist, Theodor Schwann, who was a close friend of Schleiden, stated that all animal tissues are composed of cells.

Explain what is meant by the Cell Theory.

Development of the Cell Theory 1858- Rudolf Virchow, German Physician, after extensive study of cellular pathology, concluded that cells must arise from preexisting cells.

Explain what is meant by the Cell Theory.

The Cell Theory

The 3 Basic Components of the Cell Theory were now complete:

1. All organisms are composed of one or more cells. (Schleiden & Schwann)(1838-39) 2. The cell is the basic unit of life in all living things. (Schleiden & Schwann)(1838-39) 3. All cells are produced by the division of preexisting cells. (Virchow)(1858)

How Has The Cell Theory Been Used?

The basic discovered truths about cells, listed in the Cell Theory, are the basis for things such as:
Disease/Health/Medical Research and Cures(AIDS, Cancer, Vaccines, Cloning, Stem Cell Research, etc.) * Photo of Cancer Cells

Know the size and range of cells

How can we see cells?

The human body consists of billions of cells. Cells are very small. A typical cell is about 20 micrometres wide. 1 micrometre (1m) is 1 millionth of a metre. Since most cells are too small to be seen with the naked eye or a magnifying glass, they must be viewed with a microscope. There are 2 main types of microscopes that may be used: 1) Light microscope, 2) Electron microscope.

The Size of Cells

Extension for Really Interested Students

www.learn.genetics.utah.edu 1. Go to Home/Amazing Cells. Have a look at the following: Cells in Perspective: Cell Size and Scale + Real Cell Videos