Cell Theory Timeline

Aristotle

340 BCE

theorized how animals and plants developed through preformation and epigenesis. Supported spontaneous generation

Zacharias Jansen

Jan 1, 1590

Believed to be the first person to invent the compound microscope

Jan Baptist van Helmont

Jan 1, 1620

Believed in spontaneous generation. Said that if you put a rage over a pot of riced you will create mice in 21 days

Robert Hooke

Jan 1, 1665

Looked at a cork under microscope and discovered cells. Supported spontaneous generation

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

Jan 1, 1674

Adjusted the original microscope
Did not support spontaneous generation

Lorenz Oken

Jan 1, 1802

Stated that all cells originate from and consist of cells
Did not support spontaneous generation

Robert Brown

Jan 1, 1833

Discovered the nucleus in plant cells. Did not support spontaneous generation

Theodore Schwann

Jan 1, 1837

Contributed to the cell theory by stating that cells were the basic unit of structure in living things. Did not support spontaneous generation.

Matthias Schleiden

Jan 1, 1839

Applied cell theory to plants. Did not support spontaneous generation

Albrecht von Roelliker

Jan 1, 1840

Discovers sperm and eggs are also cells. Did not support spontaneous generation.

Rudolf Virchow

Jan 1, 1855

Endorsed cell division and the role it plays. Did not support spontaneous generation

Louis Pasteur

Jan 1, 1864

Learned that microorganisms spoil food