1. Discovery of Cells 8 th Grade Science

2. What is a CELL? Cell – the basic unit of all living things. Cells are SO tiny… they are not visible to the naked eye.

3. Robert Hooke – discovered ‘cells’ Using a microscope, Hooke discovered small boxes in a piece of cork. He called these CELLS. He continued his work by examining mainly plants. He thought cells were found only in plants. Cork cells… resembles a honeycomb.

4. Anton van Leeuwenhoek Using a microscope, began to examine different animals. He looked at pond scum, blood cells from fish, birds, and frogs, and blood from humans. He was the first person to discover bacteria AND determined cells were in both, plants and animals. Pond Scum

5. The Cell Theory All organisms are composed of one or more cells. The cell is the basic unit of life in all living things. All cells come from existing cells.