Robert Hooke discovered cells. Really?

Do you know who Robert Hooke was? He was a “natural scientist”. A prodigy. Very intelligent.

Okay, do you know what a cell is? Cells are what our body is made up of. It’s a basic and functional unit of life. Cells make tissues, tissues make organs, organs make organ system and an organ system makes an organism (basically our bodies). I’ll not bother you with more biology. Chill.

So why am I bothering you with cells and Robert Hooke? You’ll get the answer. Patience.Robert Hooke observed dead plant (or cork) cells under a microscope. He thought they were cells. He even compared them to cellula or smalls rooms inhabited by monks. This is how cells got their name. He published his illustrations in a book Micrographia. It was greatly celebrated because ohmygod he discovered what are bodies are made up of! It’s a huge thing.

You know the sad part (Yes there’s actually a sad part)? He did not discover “living” cells or true biological functions. He saw “dead” cells under a microscope, as he observed cork or dead plant. Living cells have various cell organelles and a nucleus. What Robert observed had nothing (because they were dead); it just has a boundary, which was discovered as a cell wall.

Cells.Cell wall

Do you notice something? Our life goes the some way. We see something else, we tell that to the world and in the end what you actually saw was false. Robert’s eyes and mind were betrayed. But other scientists at least got a start. Anton Van Leeunvenhoek discovered living cells with cell organelles and a nucleus in 1674. He also saw bacteria.We observe something, get happy and live with the same belief. In the end we’re proved wrong. If Robert would’ve observed living cells, I wouldn’t even think of writing this thought. 

 He saw cell walls and not cells. We see something, but it isn’t always true. Trust me.

By Saniya Sethi

(shit, i know this was very random)

would you, maybe, read this sad poem i wrote: i am wrong?