Video Transcript
How did Antonie van Leeuwenhoek contribute to the development of cell theory? (A) Van Leeuwenhoek used a microscope to view a piece of cork that he determined was
made up of small compartments that he called cells. (B) Van Leeuwenhoek used lenses to make simple microscopes that could view living
organisms under greater than 200 times magnification. (C) Van Leeuwenhoek studied plant tissues and determined that plants are composed of
cells. (D) Van Leeuwenhoek stated that the new cells in an organism are produced by
preexisting cells. (E) Van Leeuwenhoek determined that all living organisms are composed of cells.
This question asks about a scientist who lived in the 1600s named Antonie van
Leeuwenhoek. His discoveries contributed to our understanding of cell theory, which is made up of
three principles. The first is that all living things are made of at least one cell. The second is that the cell is the basic unit of life. And the third principle of cell theory is that all cells come from preexisting
cells. Let’s review some of the scientists who contributed to cell theory in order to answer
this question correctly.
The discoveries related to cell theory were only made possible after microscopes were
invented in the late 1500s. The first scientist to coin the word cell was Robert Hooke who lived in the
1600s. He named these after observing cork under the microscope. Another scientist that lived in the 1600s was Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, sometimes
called the father of microbiology. Van Leeuwenhoek was a microscope enthusiast who built his own simple microscope that
was basically a powerful magnifying lens able to magnify objects greater than 200
times. He used this simple microscope to make many observations regarding protozoa and
bacteria. His research was reproduced and confirmed by Robert Hooke, which gave him
credibility.
Following this, in the 1800s, the scientists Schleiden and Schwann proposed that all
plants and animals are made up of cells. Also in the 1800s, Rudolf Virchow proposed that all cells arise from preexisting
cells.
After reviewing different discoveries that led to cell theory, we should be able to
answer our question correctly. The option that correctly identifies the contributions of van Leeuwenhoek to the
development of cell theory is given by answer choice (B). Van Leeuwenhoek used lenses to make simple microscopes that can view living organisms
under greater than 200 times magnification.
