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Robert Hooke
Used a 3-lens microscope system. Examined the structure of a cork; saw many empty chambers which he called "cells." -
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
Used a single-lens microscope. Was the first to see the movement of different types of single cells that we know as bacteria, sperm, and unicellular protozoa; named them "animalcules." -
Francesco Redi
Questioned spontaneous generation. Observed that: an open flask with raw meat grew maggots, a closed flask with raw meat grew no maggots. Spontaneous generation still thrived. -
John Needham
Boiled chicken broth, sealed it, still found micro-organisms in the liquid. Suggested that a life force that produced spontaneous generation. -
Robert Brown
Identified an important cell structure: an opaque spot which he called the 'nucleus.' -
Schleiden & Swann
Proposed that all plants and amilas were composed of cells and that the cell was the basic unit of all organisms. Created the cell theory. -
Louis Pasteur
Bent the neck of the flask, with broth inside of it, into an "S" shape; air could reach broth but micro-organisms could not.