The History of the Microscope and Cell Theory

Microscope is Invented

Oct 2, 1600

A father- son team, Hans and Zacharias Jansen, create the first microscope.

Relationship Through Time of the Invention of the Microscope and the Discovery of Cell Theory

Period: Oct 2, 1600 to Oct 2, 1950

Cell

Oct 4, 1653

Robert Hooke discovers the cell. He publishes his work two years later.

Microgphia is Published

Oct 2, 1665

Robert Hooke publishes "Microgphia, a folio of 38 sketches that he drew with the aid of his microscope. Hooke becomes to coin phrase the word cell while study a piece of cork.

Leeuwenhoek Discovers Multiple Types of Cells

Oct 2, 1673

Antony van Leeuwenhoek made the incredibly important biology discoveries of bacteria, free living and parasitic microscopic protist, sperm cells, blood cells, and many more.

"Little Animals"

Oct 4, 1678

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek discovers " little animals"- bacteria and protozoain samples through his microscope.

Cell Nucleus

Oct 4, 1682

Leeuwenhoek describes the cell nucleus in his findings.

Microscope Lenses Improve

Oct 2, 1823

Achromatic lenses are introduced to provide a resolution of 1 micron.

Nucleus is Confirmed

Oct 4, 1831

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

Cell Theory is Proposed

Oct 2, 1839

Theodor Schwann and Matthias Schleiden formally propose "Cell Theory".

First Statement of Cell Theory

Oct 4, 1839

"Microscopic Investigations on the Accordance in the Structure and Growth of Plants and Animals" is published by Theodor Schwann, Includes the first statement of cell theory: All living things are made up of cells.

Micrographs are Invented

Oct 2, 1840

Donne' publishes the first micrographs in France.

Division of a Cell

Oct 4, 1855

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

Pathology

Oct 4, 1858

Rudolf Virchow endorses cell division and its role in pathology.

Theory of the Microscope is Published

Oct 2, 1873

Ernest Abbe work on the theory of the microscope making a clear difference between magnification and resolution. His formula on how to calculate resolution based on his wave light theory becomes widely spread.

Revovling Mount

Oct 4, 1873

Ernest Laitz introduces a turret for microscopes a revolving mount for 5 different objects.

Mitosis

Oct 4, 1879

Walther Flemming discovers mitosis.

Microscope Quality Improves

Oct 2, 1880

August Kohler added a microscope lamp with filters that allows a clearier quality image.

Microtromes

Oct 4, 1880

Microtromes appear for sample preparation.

Apochromatic Design

Oct 4, 1886

Ernest Abbe designs apochromatic object allow blue, yellow, and red to focus into one. This can only be used with 10 or more elements.

UV Microscope

Oct 4, 1904

First commerical UV microscope by Zeiss is invented. The resolution is twice that of a visible light microscope.