Robert Hooke (1665) & Cells: Observed tiny boxes in cork, called them cells as they resembled monk's rooms.
Anton van Leeuwenhoek: Built his own microscope, discovered protozoa, bacteria, and sperm cells in water droplets.
Discovery of Cell Nucleus
Robert Brown (1831): Observed a similar structure (nucleus) in plant cells.
Theodor Schwann: Found nucleus in tadpole cells, united plant and animal kingdoms by their cellular structure.
Two Fundamental Types of Life: Prokaryotes (bacteria, no nucleus) and Eukaryotes (nucleus).
Carl Woese (1977): Discovered Archaea, a third form of life, different from bacteria.
Cell Division and Chromosomes
Walter Fleming (1881): Detailed cell division (mitosis) and identified chromosomes.
Eduard von Beneden & August Weismann (1883-1887): Discovered meiosis, special cell division in sex cells reducing chromosome number by half.
Stem Cells
Hans Spemann: Early observations on cells not differentiated in early embryo stages.
Modern Research: Helen Blau studies potential and plasticity of stem cells.
Cellular Energy
Hans Krebs: Discovered the Krebs cycle, explaining how cells convert food into energy (ATP).
Mitochondria: Identified as the powerhouse of the cell, helps in energy production.
Nervous System Communication
Henry Dale & Otto Loewi: Proved neurotransmission between neurons was chemical, not electrical (discovered neurotransmitters).
Hormones
William Bayliss & Ernest Starling (1903): Discovered secretin, the first hormone, showing that the body uses chemical messengers.
Photosynthesis
Joseph Priestley & Jan Ingenhousz (1771): Discovered photosynthesis, how plants transform sunlight into chemical energy.
Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Tropical Biodiversity: Found that tropics hold immense biodiversity, essential for many resources and medicines.
Arthur Tansley: Introduced the concept of the ecosystem, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all biological systems.
Conclusion
The history of biology showcases an ongoing journey of discovery from the cellular to the macro level, emphasizing the endless search for understanding life.