History of Cell Theory

  • Hooke published Micrographia

    Hooke published Micrographia

    The first important work
    devoted to microscopical observation, and
    showed what the microscope could mean for naturalist. He uses this book to describe the microscopic units that made up the structure of a slice of cork and coined the term "cells" or "pores" to refer to these units.
  • Period: to

    Matthias Jakob Schleiden suggested that every structural element of plants is composed of cells or their products

    The conclusions of Schleiden considered to represent the official formulation of ‘cell theory’ and their names are
    almost as closely linked to cell theory as are
    those of Watson and Crick with the structure of DNA. This is important because it tells us who studied that plants were made up of cells.
  • Robert Brown was the first to recognize the nucleus

    Robert Brown was the first to recognize the nucleus

    The Scottish botanist Robert Brown was the first to recognize the nucleus (a term that he introduced) as an essential
    constituent of living cells.
  • Period: to

    Cell Theory Officially Created

    Cells were not seen as undifferentiated structures. Some cellular components, such as the nucleus, had been visualized, and the
    occurrence of these structures in cells of different tissues and organisms hinted at the possibility that cells of similar organization
    might underlie all living matter. This is important because this is the main idea of the timeline.
  • Period: to

    Santiago Ramon y Cajal became the main supporter and indefatigable champion of the neuron theory

    Ironically, it was by using Golgi’s black
    reaction that the Spanish neuroanatomist
    Santiago Ramón y Cajal became
    the main supporter and indefatigable champion of the neuron theory. His neuroanatomical investigations contributed to the
    foundations of the basic concepts of modern
    neuroscience.
  • A book was published that contained drawings of the nerve cells

    A book was published that contained drawings of the nerve cells

    A book by Karl Deiters published posthumously in 1865, contains
    beautiful descriptions and drawings of nerve cells studied by using histological methods and microdissections made with thin needles under the microscope. This book helped people learn about the nerve cells and study them the same way this author did.
  • The introduction of the oil immersion lens

    The introduction of the oil immersion lens

    The introduction of the oil immersion lens in 1870, the development of the microtome technique and the use of new fixing methods and dyes greatly improved microscopy. This is important because it helped improve science.
  • Golgi developed the "black reaction'22"

    Golgi developed the "black reaction'22"

    The most important breakthrough in neurocytology and neuroanatomy. Which he announced to a friend with
    these few words, “I am delighted that I have between neurons. When the nervous system was also found to be made up of independent
    units, cell theory obtained its final triumph.
  • Walther Flemming  introduced the term ‘‘mitosis’’

    Walther Flemming introduced the term ‘‘mitosis’’

    This process was observed in plants, providing further evidence of the deep unity of the living world. This is important because it's still a term we use today and it had an impact on modern day science.
  • Walter Introduced the term "nuerons"

    Walter Introduced the term "nuerons"

    Walter introduces the term to indicate independent nerve cells. Thereafter, cell theory as applied to the nervous system became
    known as the ‘neuron theory’. This is important because this tells us who introduced the term and why.