Timeline of Cell Discoveries

Cells are the battle ground for defending our health and fighting aging. They are the places where viruses attack, and where pharmacueticals act. Here is a timeline describing how cells came to be known. (See the Detailed Version)

- 1653

Robert C. Hooke discovers the cell Robert C. Hooke discovers the cell

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Consignment from the King, Personal curiosity
How: Looked at a thin slice of cork through a microscope at 50x
Institution: The Royal Society
Where: London, England
Funding: King Charles II
Technology: Microscope

1682 -

Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek sees blood cells and describes the cell nucleus Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek sees blood cells and describes the cell nucleus

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Why: Personal curiosity
How: Observed fish blood cells with a microscope at 250x
Institution: The Royal Society
Where: Delft, Holland
Funding: The Royal Society
Technology: Microscope

- 1831

Robert Brown names the cell nucleus and suggests its importance in fertilization Robert Brown names the cell nucleus and suggests its importance in fertilization

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Why: Further the study of botany
How: By looking at cells of Asclepiads and orchids through a microscope
Institution: The British Museum
Where: London, England
Funding: The British Museum
Technology: Microscope

1839 -

Theodor Schwann proposes that all living things are entirely made of cells Theodor Schwann proposes that all living things are entirely made of cells

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How: Drawing upon published information
Institution: University of Berlin
Where: Berlin, Germany

- 1855

Robert Remak develops a method to isolate the cell membrane and proves it divides a cell Robert Remak develops a method to isolate the cell membrane and proves it divides a cell

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Why: To discover how cells originate
How: By creating a chemical hardening agent which allowed him to observe how the membrane divided the cell
Institution: University of Berlin
Where: Berlin, Germany
Funding: Self-Funded
Technology: Chemical hardening agent, Microscope

1858 -

Rudolf Virchow endorses cell division and its role in pathology Rudolf Virchow endorses cell division and its role in pathology

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Why: To advocate and popularize the theory that all cells form from other cells
How: Drawing upon published information
Institution: University of Berlin
Where: Berlin, Germany