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GCSE Biology Basic Cell Theory: - This first section will cover the following core topics: -
A very Basic overview of cell theory and the important people involved.
Simple magnification calculations
Components of a bacterial cell
The nucleus of the cell
Function of the components of a plant cell
Function of the components of an animal cell
How plant and animal cells can be studied with a light microscope
Cell Theory: The Organisation of Life
So, it's important that you know first of all that "All organisms are composed of cells".
But, what is a cell?
Cells can be described as "the basic units life".
Cells were 'discovered' by Robert Hooke in England in 1665. Hooke was using one of the first microscopes.
Hooke coins the term "Cell"
Watch the Full episodes at BBC four: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00m5w92/episodes/guide
Another important dude in the realm of cell biology was Anton van Leeuwenhoek. He used microscopes capable of magnifying 500 times, and discovered an amazing world of single-celled life in a drop of pond water.
Anton van Leeuwenhoek
Anton van Leeuwenhoeks microscope - capable of magnifying 500 times!
What Anton van Leeuwenhoek saw through his microscope
Watch the Full episodes at BBC four: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00m5w92/episodes/guide
In 1839, two German biologists, Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann summarised a large number of observations by themselves and others.
They concluded that all living organisms consist of cells.
Their conclusion forms the basis of what has come to be known as cell theory.
Schleiden, Schwann and the development of Cell Theory
Watch the Full episodes at BBC four: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00m5w92/episodes/guide
Download the lesson resources