Cell theory facts for kids

In biology, cell theory is the historic scientific theory, now universally accepted, that living organisms are made up of cells. Cells are the basic unit of structure in all organisms and also the basic unit of reproduction. With continual improvements made to microscopes over time, magnification technology advanced enough to discover cells in the 17th century. This discovery is largely attributed to Robert Hooke, and began the scientific study of cells, also known as cell biology. Over a century later, many debates about cells began amongst scientists. Most of these debates involved the nature of cellular regeneration, and the idea of cells as a fundamental unit of life. Cell theory was eventually formulated in 1839. This is usually credited to Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann. However, many other scientists like Rudolf Virchow contributed to the theory.

Images for kids

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  A reproduction of Anton van Leeuwenhoek's microscope from the 17th century with a magnification of 300x

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  Drawing of the structure of cork by Robert Hooke that appeared in Micrographia.

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  Matthias Jakob Schleiden (1804–1881)

By the mid-century cells were identified as being the substance in a body part containing what's called germs in A cell just like a fungi.