Microscope

History of the Microscope and Cell Theory

By gscala
  • Invention of the microscope

    Invention of the microscope

    Although it is uncertain exactly when the microscope was invented and who invented it, Hans and Zacharias Jansen were the most mentioned names. (Pictured is Antonie van Leeuwenhoek's microscope)
  • The phrase "cell" was created

    The phrase "cell" was created

    Robert Hooke was the first to describe and coin the phrase "cell" when observing a slice of cork (bark from an oak tree) using a microscope power of 30X.
  • Antoni van Leeuwenhook discovered "little animals" through a microscope.

    Antoni van Leeuwenhook discovered "little animals" through a microscope.

    These little animals were protozoas.

  • Achromatic lenses were invented

    Achromatic lenses for spectacles were invented by Chester Moore Hall and they created the start of a big improvement in microscopic technology.
  • General cell theory was proposed

    General cell theory was proposed

    C.F. Wolff of Germany was responsible for this.
  • Small high power achromatic lenses were created for microscopes

    Small high power achromatic lenses were created for microscopes

    Jan and Harmanus van Deyl were the first to create those types of lenses and they started to commercially produce them by the beginning of the 19th century. This was a big advancement in microscopic technology because before then, microscopes didn't show a very clear picture of whatever was being studied.
  • The nucleus was named an essential feature of cells in plants and animals

    The nucleus was named an essential feature of cells in plants and animals

    Robert Brown discovered this.
  • It was discovered that plants are made up of cells

    It was discovered that plants are made up of cells

    Matthias Jakob Schleiden was the first to discover that all plants are composed of cells.

  • It was discovered that all cells come from other cells.

    Matthias Jakob Schleiden discovered this

  • It was discovered that ALL living things are made up of cells

    Theodor Schwann wrote the book "Microscopic Investigations on the Accordance in the Structure and Growth of Plants and Animals" which stated that all living things are made up of cells.
  • Mitochondria was discovered

    Mitochondria was discovered

    Von Kolliker made this discovery.

  • It was suggested that all living cells must rise from pre-existing cells

    Rudolf Virchow elaborated on the work done by Matthias Jakob Schleiden and Theodor Schwann and proposed that all living cells come from pre-existing cells. Everyone thought it was crazy because they believed that nonliving matter could spontaneously generate living tissue.

  • Mendel's laws were created

    Mendel announced his theories of heredity, known as Mendel’s Laws.
  • DNA was discovered

    DNA was discovered

    DNA was first isolated by Friedrich Miescher
  • Walther Flemming discovers mitosis

    Walther Flemming discovers mitosis

  • Oil immersion objective lens was invented

    Carl Zeiss Jena created the first oil immersion objective lens.
  • Chromosomes were discovered

    Chromosomes were discovered

    Walther Fleming uses dyes to stain cells and upon examination, he finds rods that he calls chromosomes.
  • It was discovered that bacteria causes diseases

    It was discovered that bacteria causes diseases

    Robert Koch discovered that bacteria and micro bacteria caused disease.
  • It's discovered that members of the same species have the same number of chromosomes.

    It's discovered that members of the same species have the same number of chromosomes.

    Edouard van Beneden discovered this.
  • It's proposed that heredity is transmitted by a substance of chemical and molecular constitution

    It's proposed that heredity is transmitted by a substance of chemical and molecular constitution

    August Weismann was the German scientist who proposed this theory.

  • Apochromat immersion lens was invented

    Hugh Powell invented the apochromat immersion lens which corrects the appearance of distortion.
  • Alfred Sturtevant began constructing a chromosomal map for fruit flies

    Alfred Sturtevant began constructing a chromosomal map for fruit flies

    He completed it in 1951.
  • Electron Microscope was invented

    Electron Microscope was invented

    Max Knoll and Ernst Ruska constructed the first electron microscope. It magnifies the specimen by using a beam of electrons.
  • The phase contrast microscope was invented

    The phase contrast microscope was invented

    The Dutchman Zernike invented the phase contrast microscope.

  • Commercial microscope is finally brought to the market

  • It's discovered that DNA is the only thing responsible for heredity.

    It's discovered that DNA is the only thing responsible for heredity.

    American scientist Oswald Avery made this discovery.

  • A new scientific branch is created

    Francis Crick and James Watson along with Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin start a new scientific branch called molecular biology

  • Differential interference contrast (DIC) system was patented

    Differential interference contrast (DIC) system was patented by Georges Nomarsky. It was a well known contrast enhancing method.
  • Atomic Force Microscope is invented

    Atomic Force Microscope is invented

    Atomic Force Microscope is invented and it measures force instead of current.
  • DNA fingerprinting was created

    DNA fingerprinting was created

    The first crime conviction based on DNA fingerprinting, in Portland Oregon.