Question

Who discovered the cell for the first time?

Answer 1

Cells are described as the basic structural and functional unit of living things. They are the smallest units which carry out all life processes. Nearly all cells consist of plasma membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, and DNA.

Complete answer:
The term cell was used to refer to small units of life in 1665 by a British scientist named Robert Hooke. He observed a thin slice of cork under his microscope and saw a honeycomb like structures which were named as cells.
After Robert Hooke discovered cells, Anton van Leeuwenhoek in Holland made his own microscope lenses. Using his microscope, Leeuwenhoek was the first person to observe human cells and bacteria.

In the early 1800s, scientists observed cells of many different organisms which led two German scientists named T Schwann and MJ Schleiden to propose the theory that cells are the building blocks of all living things. In 1850, a German doctor named R Virchow who was studying cells under a microscope observed their multiplication leading to formation of new cells. Based on this realization, Virchow proposed that living cells arise only from other living cells.
The ideas of Schwann, Schleiden, and Virchow led to cell theory, which is known as one of the fundamental theories in biology.

As per the cell theory:
1)All organisms are made of one or more cells.
2)All life functions of organisms occur within cells.
3)All cells come from already existing cells.

Cells cooperate with other specialized cells and become the building blocks of large multicellular organisms, such as humans and animals.
Function of cells:
a)A living organism should respond to changes in its environment
b)A living organism should grow and develop across its lifespan
c)A living organism should be able to reproduce, or make copies of it
d)A living organism should have a metabolism
e)A living organism should maintain homeostasis, or keep its internal environment same regardless of changes outside
f)A living organism should be made of cells
g)A living organism should pass on traits to its offspring

Note: Cell Types: There are two types of cells:
1)Eukaryotes: These are complex cells which consist of multiple chromosomes and internal organelles.
2)Prokaryotes: These are single-celled organisms with a simple structure, one chromosome and absence of internal organelles.