The Cell Theory

Djumadi Achmad
Discovery of the Cell
 1665 – Robert Hooke
 Examined cork (plant tissue) using a
microscope
 The “little boxes” he observed under the
microscope reminded him of the small
rooms where monks live, so he named
them cells
Robert Hooke
Discovery of the Cell
 1673 – Anton van Leeuwenhoek
 First
person to observe living cells
under a microscope
Anton van Leeuwenhoek
Anton van Leuwenhoek
 1673- Used a handmade microscope to observe pond
scum & discovered single-celled 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
150-200 Year Gap???
 Between the Hooke/Leuwenhoek discoveries
and the mid 19th century, very little cell
advancements were made.
 This is probably due to the widely accepted,
traditional belief in Spontaneous Generation.
 Examples:
-Mice from dirty clothes/corn husks
-Maggots from rotting meat
Spontaneous Generation?

Francesco Redi
19th Century Advancement
 Much doubt existed around Spontaneous Generation
 Conclusively disproved by Louis Pasteur
Pasteur: Ummm, I
don’t think so!!!
?
=

+
Development of 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.
Development of Cell Theory
 1858- Rudolf Virchow, German physician,
after extensive study of cellular pathology,
concluded that cells must arise from
preexisting cells.
The Cell Theory Complete
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)
Modern Cell Theory
 Modern Cell Theory contains 4 statements, in
addition to the original Cell Theory:
 The cell contains hereditary information(DNA) which
is passed on from cell to cell during cell division.
 All cells are basically the same in chemical
composition and metabolic activities.
 All basic chemical & physiological functions are
carried out inside the cells.(movement, digestion,etc)
 Cell activity depends on the activities of sub-cellular
structures within the cell(organelles, nucleus, plasma
membrane)
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.)
Some Parting Thoughts
 It is amazing to think that the cells that make
up our bodies are just as alive as we are.
Humans are just an intricately designed
community of cells, which must work
together to survive.
 Cells, in my opinion, are one of the strongest
cases for intelligent design by our Creator
God!
The Stages of the Cell
Cycle

Mitosis
M stage
Mitotic Stage
The nucleus and cytoplasm
split to make two new cells
known as DIPLOID cells
STAGES OF MITOSIS
Every dividing tissue cell in the body is always at a
stage of the cell cycle. Whether it is at :-
Interphase
Cytokinesis
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
Telophase Thus enabling the body
Diagram showing to continuously make
the Stages of
Mitosis new body tissue for
growth and repair.
Prophase The
Stages
of
Mitosis
Interphase
Metaphase

Anaphase Telophase
INTERPHASE
After a cell has divided, the two
new cells begin the process again,
the cells at this stage are in
Interphase.

It is divided into three mini stages:- G1

S
Cell cycle G2
PROPHASE
 The chromatin (unravelled DNA) in
the nucleus, condenses to form
pairs of chromosomes.
• As this is happening the nucleolus
begins to break down

• The centrioles move to opposite

ends of the nucleus.
• Nuclear membrane begins to break down
METAPHASE
 The spindle becomes
fully developed
• The chromatid pairs
place themselves
onto individual fibres
and are aligned along
the centre of the
spindle

• The nuclear membrane has completely gone

ANAPHASE
 The chromatid pairs are
split into two
(This is done by movement
of the spindle fibres)
 The pairs then travel to
opposite ends of the
spindle
 The halved chromatids are
now called chromosomes
TELOPHASE
Two new nuclei are formed when the
chromosomes reach the opposite
poles of the cell
The nuclear membrane is formed- the nucleolus
reappears
The chromosomes disperse in the nucleus
EARLY MICROSCOPES

 Zacharias Janssen - made 1st compound

microscope
 a Dutch maker of reading glasses (late 1500’s)
Leeuwenhoek

 made a simple microscope (mid 1600’s)

 magnified 270X
 Early microscope lenses made images larger but the
image was not clear
 MODERN MICROSCOPES

 A microscope is simple or compound depending on

how many lenses it contains
 A lens makes an enlarged image & directs light
towards you eye
COMPOUND MICROSCOPE
 A compound microscope
has multiple lenses
 (eyepiece & objective lenses)
 STEREOMICROSCOPE
 creates a 3D image
 ELECTRON MICROSCOPES
 More powerful; some can
magnify up to 1,000,000X
 Use a magnetic field in a
vacuum to bend beams of
electrons
 Images must be
photographed or produced
electronically
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

Electron microscope image of a spider

 produces realistic 3D image

 only the surface of
specimen can be observed

Electron microscope image of a fly foot

Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)

 produces 2D image of
thinly sliced specimen
 detailed cell parts (only
inside a cell) can be
observed