The cell (from Latin cella, meaning "small room") is the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known living organisms. A cell is the smallest unit of life. ... Cells consist of cytoplasm enclosed within a membrane, which contains many biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids.

The cell was first discovered and named by Robert Hooke in 1665. He remarked that it looked strangely similar to cellula or small rooms which monks inhabited, thus deriving the name. However what Hooke actually saw was the dead cell walls of plant cells (cork) as it appeared under the microscope.

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कोशिका (Cell) सजीवों के शरीर की रचनात्मक और क्रियात्मक इकाई है और प्राय: स्वत: जनन की सामर्थ्य रखती है। यह विभिन्न पदार्थों का वह छोटे-से-छोटा संगठित रूप है जिसमें वे सभी क्रियाएँ होती हैं जिन्हें सामूहिक रूप से हम जीवन कहतें हैं।

कोशिका की खोज रॉबर्ट हूक ने १६६५ ई० में किया। १८३९ ई० में श्लाइडेन तथा श्वान ने कोशिका सिद्धान्त प्रस्तुत किया जिसके अनुसार सभी सजीवों का शरीर एक या एकाधिक कोशिकाओं से मिलकर बना होता है तथा सभी कोशिकाओं की उत्पत्ति पहले से उपस्थित किसी कोशिका से ही होती है।

धन्यवाद.

What are Cells?

Cells are the basic structural and functional units of all living organisms. They are the building blocks of life and are responsible for carrying out all the essential functions necessary for an organism's survival. Cells are incredibly diverse in their structure and function, but they all share some common characteristics.

Discovery of Cells

The discovery of cells is credited to two prominent scientists, Robert Hooke and Anton van Leeuwenhoek, who made significant contributions to our understanding of cells in the 17th century.

Robert Hooke:
- In 1665, Robert Hooke observed thin slices of cork under a microscope, which led to the discovery of cells.
- He noticed small compartments in the cork resembling the structure of a honeycomb and named them "cells" based on their resemblance to small rooms or cells in a monastery.
- Hooke's discovery was published in his book "Micrographia" and marked the beginning of the study of cells.

Anton van Leeuwenhoek:
- Anton van Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch scientist and tradesman, is considered the father of microbiology.
- In the late 17th century, he developed more advanced microscopes and made numerous observations of microscopic organisms.
- Leeuwenhoek was the first to observe living cells, bacteria, and other microorganisms, providing valuable insights into the microscopic world.

Cell Theory:
- The discovery of cells by Hooke and Leeuwenhoek laid the foundation for the development of the cell theory.
- The cell theory, proposed by Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann in the 19th century, states the following:
1. All living organisms are composed of one or more cells.
2. The cell is the basic unit of structure, function, and organization in all living organisms.
3. All cells arise from pre-existing cells through cell division.

Key Points:
- Cells are the fundamental units of life, responsible for the structure and function of all living organisms.
- The discovery of cells is attributed to Robert Hooke and Anton van Leeuwenhoek.
- Robert Hooke observed cells in cork, while Anton van Leeuwenhoek observed living cells and microorganisms.
- The cell theory, proposed by Schleiden and Schwann, established the fundamental principles of cells.
- The cell theory states that all living organisms are composed of cells, the cell is the basic unit of life, and cells arise from pre-existing cells.