GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

CELL THEORIES
& THE ADVANCEMENT
OF CELL BIOLOGY
 Learning Objectives
To pinpoint and explain the three
postulates of the Cell Theory
To trace the timeline of Cell Theory
developments
To compare and contrast the cell
theories of prominent biologists
 The Microscope and the
Origins of Cell Biology
As a major subfield of biology,
Cytology, which is the study of
the structures and functions of
plant and animal cells, would
not have grown and progressed
if not for the discovery of the
Image credit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_microscope#/media/File:Opti
microscope.
cal_microscope_nikon_alphaphot_%2B.jpg
 Cell Theory Timeline

Rudolf
Robert Hooke Matthias Virchow
(1665) Schleiden
(1858)
(1838)

Anton van Theodor

Leeuwenhoek Schwann
(1676) (1839)
 Cell Theory Biologists
1. Robert Hooke was the
first to illustrate and
demonstrate cork cells in
his 1665 book
Micrographia.

Image credit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hooke#/media/File:13_Portrait_of_Ro
bert_Hooke.JPG

Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cork_cambium#/media/File:Cork_cambium_1.jpg

 2. Anton van Leeuwenhoek
was the first to observe
blood and sperm cells with
the use of the microscope.
In his 1676 published works,
he introduced the first
unicellular organisms, which
Image credit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonie_van_Leeuwenhoek#/media/File:Anthonie_van_Lee
uwenhoek_(1632-1723)._Natuurkundige_te_Delft_Rijksmuseum_SK-A-957.jpeg
he called the animalcules.
 3. While working with his
microscope, Matthias
Schleiden discovered the
plant cell out of which
vegetative/meristematic
tissues and embryonic
Image credit:
plants originated.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthias_Jacob_Schleiden#/media/File:Matthias_Ja
cob_Schleiden_Botaniker_Jena_Th%C3%BCringen_Portrait_Stahlstich_um_185
0_b.jpg
 4. Theodor Schwann
discovered animal cells,
particularly muscle and
nerve fiber tissues now
named as the Schwann
cell in his honor.
Image credit: Theodor Schwann Litho by Rudollf Hoffmann. Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodor_Schwann#/media/File:Theodor_Schwann_
Litho.jpg
5. Rudolf Virchow was
the proponent of the
Cell Theorys 3rd
postulate, which states
that all cells come from
pre-existing cells.
 The Three Postulates of
the Cell Theory
1. All living organisms are composed of one
or more cells.
2. The cell is the basic unit of life in all
living things.
3. All cells come from pre-existing cells.
 Examples of Postulate 1
I. Unicellular Organisms
a) Amoeba

Image credit: A "Giant Amoeba by Dr. Tsukii Yuuji. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoeba#/media/File:Chaos_carolinense.jpg
b) Bacteria

Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrastructure#/media/File:Bacillus_subtilis.jpg

c) Euglena

Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euglena#/media/File:Euglena_sp.jpg

d) Paramecium

Image credit: Paramecium Aurelia by Barfooz. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramecium#/media/File:Paramecium.jpg

e) Protozoa

Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protozoa#/media/File:Mikrofoto.de-Blepharisma_japonicum_15.jpg

II. Multicellular Organisms
a) Fungi
b) Plant cells (Douglas fir tree wood stem
cells)
c) Animal cells (red blood cells of the
chicken)

Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood#/media/File:Chickenrbc1000x.jpg

d) Human cells (red blood cells)

Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood#/media/File:Humanrbc1000x.jpg

Examples of Postulate 2
a) Breast cancer cells

Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_cell#/media/File:Breast_cancer_cells.jpg

b) Human embryonic stem cells

Image credit:
ttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Human_embryonic_stem_cells_only_A.png
b) Skin cells
 Activity

Form groups of three or five members. Then refer

to the sample pictures of the unicellular and
multicellular organisms presented earlier. Based
on these, create a two-column table where you
will list down the characteristics that your group
observed regarding unicellular and multicellular
organisms. The group output will serve as both
recitation and observation experiment report for
this lesson.
 Observation Experiment Report
Names of Group Members:
Observed Characteristics of Unicellular
and Multicellular Organisms
Unicellular Organisms Multicellular Organisms
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.