Biological Sciences The Cell

The Cell Theory

How it was formulated?

The Cell Theory was formulated after a series of discoveries made by different scientists. These scientists
are the ff:

Anton van Leeuwenhoek 1665 - constructed an early microscope that revealed tiny organisms
(animalcules) in rainwater, insects, fabric, sperm, feces, and other samples. In scrapings of tartar
from his teeth, Leeuwenhoek saw many very small animalcules, the motions of which were very
pleasing to behold. He (incorrectly) assumed that movement defines life, but (correctly) concluded
that the moving animalcules he saw were alive.
o Movement alone cannot define life such as the case for plants. There is what we call
sessility, a term referring to organisms that do not possess a means of self-locomotion and
are normally immobile. They can move through outside sources such as the wind and
water currents. Exameple of a sessile organism is the Mytilus edulis which is commonly
known as Blue Mollusks
Robert Hooke 1665 observed cork under a microscope and discovered it to consist of a great
many little Boxes. which he called cells (after the small chambers that monks live in) by using a
microscope about six inches long with two convex lenses inside.

--- There was no attempt by Hooke and Leeuwenhoek to relate their findings but it urged other scientists
to work with microscopes. These discoveries led to the 1st tenet of the cell theory.

Robert Brown 1831 discovered the nucleus

Johannes Purkinje 1839 discovered the protoplasm
Matthias Schleiden worked on plant cells
Theodor Schwann worked on animal cells

--- Schleiden and Schwann concluded that the cell is not only the fundamental unit of the organism but
fundamental in function as well which led to the 2nd tenants of the cell theory. It should also be noted that
the cell theory came to life because of them. Yes, they are the ones who have put the discoveries, made
connections and came up to the postulates---

Rudolf Virchow 1855 found out that cells divide to form new cells and he is the one who
added the 3rd tenet of the cell theory. This discovery as well is the basis of the 4 th tenet.

The Accepted Tenets of the Cell Theory

1. Every living organism consists of one or more cells.

2. The cell is the structural and functional unit of all organisms. A cell is the smallest unit of life,
individually alive even as part of a multicellular organism.
3. All living cells arise by division (mitosis and meiosis) of pre-existing cells.
4. Cells contain hereditary material, which they pass to their offspring when they divide (meiosis).

Modern Interpretation

The following tenets are included in the modern cell theory

- Energy flow occurs within the cells

o Metabolic pathways occur within the cell. Glycolysis, the breakdown of glucose to form
2 pyruvate molecules wherein in the process, energy, in the form of ATP is generated,
 occurs in the cytosolic portion of the cell. Meanwhile oxidation of Acetyl-CoA (known
as the Krebs Cycle / Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle / Citric Acid Cycle) and Oxidative
Phosphorylation occurs in the Mitochondria.
- Heredity information (DNA) is passed on from cell to cell.
o Genetic information is passed on from cell to cell via replication and is passed on to
offspring via meiotic division.
- All cells have the same basic composition.
o This talks about the different components of the cell (organelles as well for eukaryotes)
and the biomolecules within it such as nucleic acids of the genetic material.

Points to ponder:

Even if all living cells arise from pre-existing cells how did the very first ever cell on earth came
into existence?

How can a genetic material which consists of a long chain of nucleobase-pairings be able to fit in
a microscopic structure (the cell)?

Sources: Biology: The Diveristy of Life by Starr, Evers, Starr (14 E)

Campbell Biology by Cain, Wasserman, et. Al (11 E)

Site to check :https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_theory