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he three parts of the cell theory are as follows: (1) All living things are made up of cells, (2)
Cells are the smallest units (or

most basic building blocks) of life, and (3) All cells come from preexisting cells through the process of cell division. Cells were
first observed by the natural philosopher Robert Hooke in 1665. Though many scientists contributed to the understanding of
cells, Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann are credited with describing the first two parts of the cell theory in 1839, and
Rudolf Virchow with later contributing the third. Today, the cell theory is considered the foundation of biology.
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The cell theory is an explanation of what cells are and why they exist. The three main parts are: 1) All
living things are made of cells and their products, 2) New cells are created by old cells dividing into
two, and 3) Cells are the basic building units of...
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The cell theory is an explanation of what cells are and why they exist. The three main parts are: 1) All
living things are made of cells and their products, 2) New cells are created by old cells dividing into
two, and 3) Cells are the basic building units of life. In 1665, Robert Hooke observed, with the aid of
a crude compound microsope, the structure of a thin slice of cork. The structure resembled stacks of
hat boxes, or holding cells, so he called what he observed "cells". In 1674, Anton von Leeuenhoek
observed, in a sample of pond water, small animal-like creatures swimming around. He probably was
looking at Spyrogira, but he called these small organisms "animal-cules". Theodore Schwann and
Matthias Schleiden are responsible for formulating the first two parts of the cell theory, which was a
scientific explanation of what these scientists had observed up to this point. A few years later,
Rudolph Virchow added the third part of the cell theory, that all things are composed of these basic
building blocks called cells.
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The cell theory was arrived at after much study of living cells due to the intellectual contributions of
Matthias Schleiden who noted all plants contains cells, and in 1838 added that different parts of plants
were composed of cells. Theodor Schwann noted all living things contained cells and cell products
and Rudolph Virchow, who noted that cells come from pre-existing cells. He pusblished his work in
1858 which rejected the idea of spontaneous generation, which was believed at the time. The cell
theory states that 1. cells are the unit of structure of all living things 2. cells are the unit of function of
living things--they carry out life processes 3. all cells come from pre--existing cells. These three
scientists are credited with arriving at the cell theory. However, one cannot discount other
contributers--the famous Francesco Redi experiment that proved maggots didn't come from rotten
meat, but from adult lies laying eggs and the vast and detailed drawings by Anton Leeuwenhoek, who
saw the cells of various living things using his early microscopes.
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he three parts of the cell theory are as follows: (1) All living things are made up of cells, (2)

Cells are the smallest units (or

Hover for more information.

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NORVAL LARSON| CERTIFIED EDUCATOR

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