Chapter 8: Cell the unit of life

1. What is a Cell?

All living organisms are composed of cells. Cells are the building blocks of any living body. It is the basic structural as well as the functional unit of life. Some living organisms are made up of only a single cell and are thus known as unicellular organisms (e.g. bacteria), while many other organisms are composed of numerous cells and are therefore called multicellular organisms (e.g. plants and animals).

The invention of the microscope in the 17th century paved the way for the discovery of cells. Thecell was firstdiscovered by Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. He was the first person to observe and describe a live bacterial cell. He is also known as the father of microbiology. Later, the discovery of the nucleus in a cell, by Robert Brown was another significant milestone in the field of microbiology.