Cell Theory

Major principles of the Cell Theory

• All organisms are made of cells.
• All existing cells are produced by other living things.
• The cell is the most basic unit of life.

Contributors to Cell Theory

Contributors to Cell Theory

• Hooke: first to identify cells, and he named them
• Leeuwenhoek: observed cells in greater detail
• Schleiden: first to note that plants are made of cells
• Schwann: concluded that all living things are made of cells
• Virchow: proposed that all cells come from other cells

Prokaryotic cells

• No nucleus
• No membrane bound organelles
• DNA suspended in cytoplasm
• single-celled organisms

Eukaryotic Cells

• nucleus and membrane bound organelles
• nucleus: largest organelle & encloses genetic material
• multi-cellular or single-celled organisms