You are on page 1of 5

Preliminary Biology Research Task

1. Outline the historical development of the cell theory, in particular,


the contributions made by Robert Hooke and Robert Brown

Period Development Supporting Technology used


evidence
Until 1600 Scientists believed People saw None, only human
that the theory of maggots coming eye observations.
spontaneous out of rotten Humans cant see
generation which garbage. Meat cells
suggested that gives rise to tiny
living things maggots
originate from non
living matter
Francis Redi Disproved Showed maggots Scientific method
(1668) spontaneous in rotten meat
generation produced by flies
which visited
meat in open
glass jar
Louis Pasteur Also disproved Showed that meat Scientific method
(1865) spontaneous broth in flasks
generation open to outside
was spoiled by
microbes that
entered flasks
from outside
through open
glass tubes
Robert Hooke First postulate of He observed a Ordinary light
(1665) cell theory and thin sheet of cork microscope that
stated that living under a produced poor
things are made of microscope and quality image
tiny units called found that it was which scientists
cells made of tiny cells believed could be
distorted images.
He used staining
techniques to
improve visibility
in specimens
Antoine He also stated He observed a Ordinary light
Leeuwenhoek that living cells variety of plant microscope that
(1670) are made of tiny and animal could magnify up
cells material like to 300 times.
blood, plant These findings
tissues, were verified by
protozoans in a Robert Hooke
drop of pond
water
Robert Brown He observed plant He studied a Ordinary light
(1833) cells more closely variety of plant microscope and
and observed a tissues and saw a staining
round body inside nucleus in all the techniques. Used
which he called cells. He didnt glass slide to
the nucleus. He explain the observe thin
also observed the importance of the sections
movement of nucleus
pollen grains in
water which he
called Brownian
movement
Matthias Schlieden He used an
(1839) ordinary light
microscope and
better sample
preparation and
staining
techniques
Schwann (1840) He used ordinary
light microscope
and better sample
preparation and
staining
techniques
Ernest Ruska and Built first electron He used ordinary
Max Knoll (1928) microscope that light microscope
had a and better sample
magnification of preparation and
only x17. Ruska staining
continued to techniques
improve the
design and in
1933 he built a
transmission
electron
microscope that
could magnify up
to x12000. The
team continued to
work through
WW2 and
produced a
microscope that
could magnify up
to 2 million times
Max Knoll (1955) First scanning
electron
microscope was
built
Marvin Minsky More advanced
(After 1955) technologies such
confocal
microscope that
use laser light to
produce a 3D view
of the built
specimen
Latest technology Use of
synchrotrons that
use high speed
electrons to
penetrate into
atoms to probe
even further up to
atomic level and
molecular level
2. Using the information given above to describe the evidence that
support the cell theory
- Robert Hookes observation of cork cells and Leeuwenhoeks
observation of many types of unicellular cells proved that living things
were made up of cells
- Walter Flemmings observation of cell division (mitosis) proved that
cells come from pre existing cells
3. Discuss the significance of technological advances to the
developments of the cell theory
- Without technological theory there would be no cell theory.
- The main areas of advancement have been in the invention and further
development in the design of the microscope and the techniques used
in the preparation of specimens.
- The microscope enabled us to see cells, allowing for the development
of the cell theory.
- The staining of cells (specimen preparation) enabled the division of the
nucleus in cell division to be observed
4. Define resolution and magnification of a microscope
Resolution is the shortest distance between two points on a specimen that
can still be distinguished by the observer or a camera system as separate
entities.
Magnification is a measure of the ability of a lens or other optical
instruments to magnify, expressed as the ratio of the size of the image to
that of the object
5. Identify 4 main plant and animal tissues and write function of
each
Plant tissue Function Animal tissue Function
Vascular (xylem Xylem transports Epithelial tissue Covers body
and phloem) water, phloem surfaces and line
transports sugars cavities
Epidermal Protects plant Connective tissue Connects and
(parenchyma) tissue and binds body parts
prevents water
loss
Ground tissue Makes up bulk of Muscular tissue Enables movement
(parenchyma, plant mass of structures
collenchyma, within the body
sclerenchyma) and movement of
the entire
person/animal
Meristematic Divides to Nervous tissue Enables responses
tissue produce new to stimuli and co
(parenchyma) growth ordinates bodily
functions
6. Assess the impact of technology including the development of the
microscope on the development of the cell theory
- Development of cell theory entirely depended upon technological
advancements, e.g. the microscope
- Using microscopes, people discovered that all cells are made of cells,
unicellular organisms were discovered
- Using the stronger electron microscope, it was discovered that even
though cells are made of organelles, they are the smallest units of life
- Development of better design of microscopes, and better specimen
preparation had a huge impact on the development of the cell theory
7. Draw well labelled diagrams four onion epidermal cells as shown
in the diagram below. Identify the type of microscope used. Justify
your answer (magnification x400). Calculate the actual width and
length of two onion cells and then find the average
8. Identify and draw labelled diagrams of the organelles you will find
in the following electron micrographs

Organelle Found in Structure Function Diagram State if the


plant or description organelle
animal cell including can be seen
size of with light
organelle in microscope,
micrometer electron
s microscope
or both
Cell wall Plant
Cell Both
membrane
Nucleus Both
Cytoplasm Both
Nucleoulus Both
Lysosome Both
Vacuoles Both
Mitochondri Both
a
Chloroplasts Plant
Golgi bodies Both
Rough ER Both
Smooth ER Both
Ribosome Animal

You might also like