Robert Hooke, an English scientist, discovered cells in 1665 while observing thin slices of cork under a microscope. He noticed honeycomb-like compartments and named them “cells” after the Latin word “cellula” meaning a small room. These compartments were actually the cell walls of dead plant cells.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
Hooke’s Microscope: Robert Hooke used a self-designed microscope to examine the cork slices.
The Cork Observation: He observed a thin slice of cork and noticed that it was composed of numerous small, box-like structures.
Naming the Cells: Hooke named these compartments “cells” because they reminded him of the small rooms (cellula) in a monastery.