Cell – The Unit of Life
Chapter: The Fundamental Unit of Life Introduction: Discovery of Cell In 1665 , Robert Hooke observed a thin slice of cork under a self-designed microscope. He noticed that cork looked like a honeycomb made of many small compartments. 🔹 Cork is obtained from the bark of a tree 🔹 These compartments were empty because cork cells were dead 🔹 Hooke named these compartments “cells” Cell is a Latin word meaning “a little room” Importance of Hooke’s Discovery First evidence that living organisms are made of small structural units Laid the foundation of Cell Biology The term cell is still used today What are Living Organisms Made Up of? All living organisms—plants, animals, and microorganisms—are made up of cells . Some organisms consist of: One cell → unicellular organisms Many cells → multicellular organisms Activity 5.1 – Observation of Onion Peel Cells Aim To observe the structure of cells in an onion peel under a microscope. Materials Required Onion bulb Forceps Wa...