In 1665, a British scientist named Robert Hooke used a microscope to examine a thin slice of cork. What he saw was incredible: tiny squares that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. These squares, similar to the ones in the image, reminded Hooke of small rooms, or “cells.” As a result, he named the microscopic structures cells.

Question

Cork cells are shown through a microscope. The cells appear empty and brown and are roughly square.
Once scientists knew cells existed, it took another 200 years to formally identify their function. By then, the work of three scientists—Theodor Schwann, Matthias Schleiden, and Rudolf Virchow—had contributed to the acceptance of cell theory. Cell theory has three parts:

All living things are made of one or more cells.
The cell is the smallest living unit in all organisms.
All cells come from pre-existing cells.

Microscopic organisms made of one cell, like bacteria, are referred to as unicellular. Organisms made of many cells are multicellular.

make an observation but tell me how it relates to the guiding question, "where do cells come from"

Answer 1

An important observation regarding cells is that they have distinct structures and functions, which are essential for the organization of life. For instance, unicellular organisms operate as complete entities, carrying out all necessary life processes within a single cell, while multicellular organisms have differentiated cells that perform specialized functions, contributing to the organism’s overall function.

This observation directly relates to the guiding question, "where do cells come from," in that it highlights the significance of pre-existing cells as the basis for all cellular life. Cell theory, which asserts that all cells arise from pre-existing cells, underscores the continuity of life through reproduction and cell division. This principle not only explains the origin of cells in a biological context but also emphasizes the evolutionary relationships between different forms of life. Essentially, cells originate from the division of pre-existing cells, ensuring that the characteristics and complexities of life are preserved and passed on through generations.