Cell Theory Timeline

By Kylie Bogard
  • 384 BCE

    Aristotle

    Did many experiments, and was the first to theorize that one living thing came from another.
  • 1543

    *Extra* Andreas Vesalius

    Clarified how cells work to make organs and systems. He showed how “cells are the smallest units of life.”

  • Zacharias Jansen

    Invented the first compound microscope. His findings allowed scientists to cite and observe cells. "All living things are made of cells."

  • Robert Hooke

    First person to observe cells. He came up with the name "cell" while observing a piece of cork. His findings led to a greater understanding of cells and life.

  • *Extra* Francisco Redi

    Disapproved the idea of spontaneous generation. Thought that “all living things come from an egg.” Helped to shape the idea that “Existing cells came from other cells.”

  • Antun Van Leeuwenhoek

    He reported to the royal society that he discovered “little animals” (bacteria and protozoa). In 1674 he invented a lens for the microscope to magnify 270%. He was the first to see bacteria and protozoa, his findings supported the cell theory as a whole.

  • Jean Baptist’s Lamark

    “All living things are made of cells, thus every living body is essentially a mass of cellular tissue.” He contributed to the theory of evolution.

  • Lorenz Oken

    “All living things originate and consist of cells.” Believed in both the ideas that all living things/organisms have cells and cells are formed by pre-existing cells.

  • Robert Brown

    He observed plant cells, discovered and named the cell Nucleus.

  • Matthias Schleiden

    Observed plants on a microscopic level. Found that all plant tissues are composed of cells. Came up with the theory that "Cells are the building blocks of plant matter.

  • Theodor Schwann

    Studied animal tissue. In 1839 he published “ Microscopic investigation on the accordance in the structure and growth of plants and animals.” He had the first statement of “All living things are made of cells”

  • Albrecht Von Roelliker

    He discovered that humans are formed of cells from the beginning of your life to the end.

  • Rudolf Virchow

    Proposed that all living cells must rise from pre-existing cells. First to demonstrate that the cell theory applies to both normal and diseased cells.

  • Louis Pasteur

    Conducted many experiments. Use them to disapprove spontaneous generation. He used an S shaped beaker to trap micro organisms and prevent them from entering broth. Prove the cell theory by showing that spontaneous generation does not exist in all cells are formed by pre-existing cells.