Cell Theory Essay

In biology, cell theory is a scientific theory that describes the properties of cells, the basic unit of structure in every living thing. The initial development of the theory, during the mid-17th century, was made possible by advances in microscopy; the study of cells is called cell biology. Cell theory states that new cells are formed from pre-existing cells, and that the cell is a fundamental unit of structure, function and organization in all living organisms. It is one of the foundations of biology. History: The cell was discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665. He examined (under a coarse, compound microscope) very thin slices of cork and saw a multitude of tiny pores that he remarked looked like the walled compartments a monk would live in. Because of this association, Hooke called them cells, the name they still bear. However, Hooke did not know their real structure or function. Hooke’s description of these cells (which were actually non-living cell walls) was published in Micrographia. His cell observations gave no indication of the nucleus and other organelles found in most living cells. The first person to make a compound microscope was Zacharias Jansen, while the first to witness a live cell under a microscope was Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, who in 1674 described the algae Spirogyra and named the moving organisms animalcules, meaning â€Å"little animals†. Leeuwenhoek probably also saw bacteria. Cell theory was in contrast to the vitalism theories proposed before the discovery of cells. The idea that cells were separable into individual units was proposed by Ludolph Christian Treviranus and Johann Jacob Paul Moldenhawer. All of this finally led to Henri Dutrochet formulating one of the fundamental tenets of modern cell theory by declaring that â€Å"The cell is the fundamental element of organization†. The observations of Hooke, Leeuwenhoek, Schleiden, Schwann, Virchow, and others led to the development of the cell theory. The cell theory is a widely accepted explanation of the relationship between cells and living things. The cell theory states: †¢All living things or organisms are made of cells and their products. †¢New cells are created by old cells dividing into two. †¢Cells are the basic building units of life. †¢ The cell theory holds true for all living things, no matter how big or small, or how simple or complex. Since according to research, cells are common to all living things, they can provide information about all life. And because all cells come from other cells, scientists can study cells to learn about growth, reproduction, and all other functions that living things perform. By learning about cells and how they function, you can learn about all types of living things. Credit for developing cell theory is usually given to three scientists: Theodor Schwann, Matthias Jakob Schleiden, and Rudolf Virchow. In 1839, Schwann and Schleiden suggested that cells were the basic unit of life. Their theory accepted the first two tenets of modern cell theory (see next section, below). However, the cell theory of Schleiden differed from modern cell theory in that it proposed a method of spontaneous crystallization that he called â€Å"free cell formation†. In 1855, Rudolf Virchow concluded that all cells come from pre-existing cells, thus completing the classical cell theory. (Note that the idea that all cells come from pre-existing cells had in fact already been proposed by Robert Remak; it has been suggested that Virchow plagiarised Remak.) Modern interpretation: The generally accepted parts of modern cell theory include: 1.All known living things are made up of one or more cells. 2.All living cells arise from pre-existing cells by division. 3.The cell is the fundamental unit of structure and function in all living organisms. 4.The activity of an organism depends on the total activity of independent cells. 5.Energy flow (metabolism and biochemistry) occurs within cells. 6.Cells contain hereditary information (DNA) which is passed from cell to cell during cell division. 7.All cells are basically the same in chemical composition in organisms of similar species. Cell Parts and Their Functions Nucleus – Large Oval body near the centre of the cell. – The control centre for all activity. – Surrounded by a nuclear membrane. Nucleoplasm – is the protoplasm in the nucleus. – contains genetic material —> CHROMOSOMES (DNA) Nucleolus – is found in the nucleus. – contains more genetic information (RNA) Cell Membrane – the outer boundary of the cell. – it separates the cell from other cells. – it is porous —> allows molecules to pass through. Lysosomes – † suicide sacs † – small structures that contain enzymes which are used in digestion. – if a lysosome were to burst it could destroy the cell. Cell Wall ( Plant Cells Only ) – non living structure that surrounds the plant cell. – protects + supports the cell. – made up of a tough fibre called cellulose. Cyto Plasm – cell material outside the nucleus but within the cell membrane. – clear thick fluid. – contains structures called organelles. Vacuoles – are clear fluid sacs that act as storage areas for food, minerals, and waste. – in plant cell the vacuoles are large and mostly filled with water. This gives the plant support. – in animal cells the vacuoles are much smaller. Mitochondria – power house of the cell. – centre of respiration of the cell. – they release energy for cell functions. Chloro Plasts ( Plant cells only ) – contains a green pigment known as chlorophyll which is important for photosynthesis. Ribosomes – tiny spherical bodies that help make proteins. – found in the cyto plasm or attached to the endo plasmic reticulum. Endo Plasmic Reticulum ( ER ) – systems of membranes throughout the cyto plasm. – it connects the nuclear membrane to the cell membrane. – passageway for material moving though the cell. Golgi Bodies – tube like structures that have tiny sacs at their ends. – they help package protein.