SUBJECT : SCIENCE 7 FORMATIVE
ASSESSMENT #4
TYPE OF ACTIVITY : CONCEPT NOTES
ACTIVITY TITLE : DEFINITION, HISTORY AND TYPES OF
CELL
LEARNING TARGET/S : I can understand the definition,
history and types of Cell.
REFERENCE/S : Exploring Life through Science by Josefina
Pavico et. al. pp 95 – 97
All living organisms are basically alike because their bodies are made
up of cells. Cell is considered as the basic structural, functional and
reproductive unit of all organisms. The study of cell is termed as Cytology,
which comes from two Greek words “cyto which means cell” and “logus
which means study”.
The discovery of cell started with the invention of the microscope in
1600s. However, the term cell was first introduced by Robert Hooke, an
English Botanist. Examining thin slices of cork from the bark of an old
oak tree with a crude compound microscope, Hooke observed empty,
honeycomb-like boxes which he called “cells” because they resembled the
box-like rooms of monks in monastery. What he actually observed, though
he was not aware of it, were the outermost covering of a plant cells now
termed as the cell wall. Hooke verified the findings of Leeuwenhoek and
published his observation in a book entitled as Micrographia.
While in 1831, Robert Brown identified a dark-stained structure at
the center of every cell. He referred to such structure as nucleus. Few years
after this discovery another scientist named Felix Dujardin stated also his
conclusion about cell. He imparted that cell contains a thick jelly fluid called
sarcode. In 1838, a German botanist named Matthias Schleiden proposed
that all plants are made up of cells. And a year later German physiologist,
Theodore Schwann observed and proposed that all animals are also made
up of cells. Based on this, the first and second statements of Cell Theory
were formulated which state that:
1. All organisms are composed of one or more cells.
2. The Cell is the basic unit of structure and function of all
organisms.
During 1850, Johannes Purkinje shared his findings that every cell
contains a living substance called as Protoplasm. In 1858, a German
pathologist named Rudolf Virchow, concluded that cells self-reproduce. He
proposed the third statement of Cell theory which states that:
3. All cells arise only from pre-existing cells (“omnis cellula e
cellula”).
Since cell is considered as the basic unit of life, each body part of a
living organism is consisting of cell. Some of the examples of animal cells are
neurons (brain cells), nephrons (kidney cells), bone cells, lobule (liver
cells). While examples of plant cells are Parenchyma (young),
Collenchyma (middle-aged) and Sclerenchyma (old).
A cell can be classified according to function (Somatic and
Reproductive) and composition (Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic).
On our next lesson, you are going to learn more about Prokaryotic and
Eukaryotic cell.
Apply what you know: Complete the timeline of events about “Cell
Discovery” by supplying the needed term for each item. (PS: 4 pts)
TIMELIN PROPONENT FINDINGS
E (Scientist)
1165 Robert Hooke coined the term “Cell”
1831 1. Nucleus
1835 Felix Dujardin 2._______________________
1838 3. All plants are composed of cells.
Theodore All animals are composed of cells.
Schwann
1850 Johannes Purkinje 4. _______________________
1858 Rudolf Virchow All cells came from pre-existing cell. (3rd
statement of Cell Theory)
Essential Question: In 1 short sentence only, answer the question
below. (PS: 1 pt)
*Why is it important to appreciate the early discoveries about cell in understanding
your bodily function?