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Cell

The smallest unit of a living thing, forming the basic building blocks of all organisms.

Organism

A living entity that can be unicellular (like bacteria) or multicellular (like humans).

Tissue

A group of interconnected cells of one kind that perform a shared function.

Organ

A structure formed by combining different tissues to perform specific functions (e.g., stomach, heart).

Organ System

A group of organs that work together to perform complex functions (e.g., digestive system).

Prokaryotic Cells

Cells that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, such as bacterial cells.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, including animal and plant cells.

Microscopy

The use of microscopes to study cells, as individual cells are typically too small to be seen with the naked eye.

Light Microscope

A type of microscope that uses visible light to magnify specimens, typically up to 400 times.

Magnification

The process of enlarging an object in appearance through a microscope.

Resolving Power

The ability of a microscope to distinguish two adjacent structures as separate; higher resolution means better clarity.

Electron Microscope

A microscope that uses a beam of electrons for higher magnification (up to 100,000 times) and resolving power than light microscopes.

Scanning Electron Microscope

A type of electron microscope that provides detailed images of a cell's surface.

Transmission Electron Microscope

An electron microscope that penetrates cells to provide details of internal structures.

Cell Theory

A unified theory stating that all living things are composed of one or more cells, the cell is the basic unit of life, and new cells arise from existing cells.

Antony van Leeuwenhoek

A scientist who observed single-celled organisms in the 1600s and coined the term "animalcules."

Robert Hooke

An experimental scientist who coined the term "cell" in 1665 when observing cork tissue.

Matthias Schleiden

A botanist who contributed to the development of cell theory in the 1830s.

Theodor Schwann

A zoologist who, along with Schleiden, proposed the unified cell theory.

Rudolf Virchow

A scientist who made significant contributions to the cell theory, emphasizing that new cells arise from existing cells.