Cells and Their Working

The basic units of structure for all living organisms are cells. All living things are made up of cells. The term cell was introduced by Hooke in 1665 because they reminded him of the tiny rooms or cells used by monks. Cell theory is basically the explanation of cells, how all living things are made of cells, the reproduction of cells, and how they are the building blocks of life. Cell theory is credited to Theodore Schwann, Matthias Schleiden and Rudolph Virchow. Plant and animal cells do not have the same structure. Plant cells are usually larger. There are additional structures in plant cells. All cells divide in one of two methods, mitosis or meiosis. Mitosis is used by single-celled organisms to reproduce, as well as for specialized growth such as for new skin, muscle, or certain plant cells. Meiosis occurs in the sexual reproduction of organisms. The new cells will each possess half the number of chromosomes (containing genetic information) from each of the parent cells. ​