In the 17th century, English scientist Robert Hooke discovered that cells are the basic unit of life.
Hooke was born in 1635 in London, England. He lived in a time when Western science was beginning to gain momentum and credibility. He was an important contributor to this movement, but his contributions were not always recognized or accepted by his contemporaries.
He is best known for his work in microscopy and cell biology. He used microscopes to look at living organisms at the cellular level, and he made several observations about the structure and function of cells that were groundbreaking at the time.
He observed that cells are composed of a jelly-like substance called “cellulose,” which helps give them their strength and structure; they reproduce by dividing into two new cells; they have pores called “dendrites” that allow nutrients to enter them; they have organelles such as mitochondria; and they grow larger or smaller depending on their environment (e.g., temperature).
Hooke’s discovery of these facts led to him developing the cell theory: all living organisms are composed of cells, which are themselves composed of organic material like proteins and carbohydrates
