Department of Education

National Capital Region

S CHOOLS DIVIS ION OFFICE
MARIK INA CITY

General Biology 1
First Quarter-Module 1:
Cell Theory

Writer: Louise Lyn A. Angeles

Illustrator: Christine Ann G. Faraon
Cover Illustrator: Christine Ann G. Faraon

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 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the nature of Biology. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many
different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary
level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the
course. But the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with
the textbook you are now using.

After going through this module, you are expected to explain the postulates of
the Cell Theory (STEM_BIO11/12-Ia-c-1).

Specifically, you are expected to

1. trace and construct a timeline on the development of Cell Theory;

2. explain the postulates of Cell Theory;
3. identify sample evidences of Cell Theory; and
4. create a slogan presenting the importance of Cell Theory.

What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your answers on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. The following are statements about the Cell Theory EXCEPT one. Which
one is it?
A. Cell is the basic unit of life.
B. Cell is the basic unit of function and structure.
C. All living and non-living things are made up of cells.
D. The cell comes from the division of pre-existing cells.

2. Which cell process best explains the statement, “Cell comes from a division
of pre-existing cell”?
A. Metabolism
B. Respiration
C. Reproduction
D. Transport of materials

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 3. Who was the first person to describe cells under the microscope and
described them as animalcules?
A. Robert Hooke
B. Theodor Schwann
C. Matthias Schleiden
D. Anton van Leeuwenhoek

4. Who discovered that plants are made of cells?

A. Robert Hooke
B. Theodor Schwann
C. Matthias Schleiden
D. Anton van Leeuwenhoek

5. Who discovered that all animals are composed of cells?

A. Robert Hooke
B. Theodor Schwann
C. Matthias Schleiden
D. Anton Van Leeuwenhoek

6. The following foreign biologists contributed ideas on cell studies:

1 - Matthias Schleiden 2 - Theodore Schwann
3 - Rudolf Virchow 4 - Robert Hooke

Which of them formulated the Cell Theory?

A. 1, 2 and 4
B. 2, 3 and 4
C. 1 ,2 and 4
D. 1, 2 and 3

7. Viruses such as COVID – 19 can replicate themselves by using enzymes

and parts of the host cell. Are the principles of Cell Theory applicable to
viruses?
A. No, viruses are not living organisms.
B. Yes, viruses arise from another virus like other cells.
C. Yes, viruses are considered as single – celled organisms.
D. No, viruses do not come from other viruses and they need a host to
survive.

8. Who was the first person to describe and name the cell?
A. Robert Hooke
B. Theodor Schwann
C. Matthias Schleiden
D. Anton van Leeuwenhoek

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9. Which of the following is exempted from Cell Theory?
A. Bacteria
B. Fungi
C. Protists
D. Virus

10. Which of the following best explains the Latin phrase, “omnis cellula a
cellula”?
A. Cell is the basic unit of life.
B. Cell is the basic unit of function and structure.
C. All living and non-living things are made up of cells.
D. The cell comes from the division of pre-existing cells.

11. Which of the following refers to the study of structures and functions of
cells?
A. Cytology
B. Ecology
C. Histology
D. Virology

12. What is the difference between unicellular and multicellular organisms?

A. Unicellular organisms contain organelles while multicellular
organisms do not.
B. Unicellular organisms contain DNA while multicellular organisms do
not.
C. Unicellular organisms contain nucleus while multicellular organisms
do not.
D. Unicellular organisms are made of only one cell while multicellular
organisms are made of many cells.

13. A biologist is examining various specimens in the laboratory under the

microscope. Which of the following supports the principles of Cell Theory?
I. Cells of root tips undergoing cell division.
II. Heart muscle cells contain single nucleus.
III. Red blood cells are biconcave or cupped cells.
IV. Epithelial tissues consist of packed cells that serve as the main
building blocks.

A. I & IV
B. I & III
C. II & IV
D. II & III

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 14. New cells are created by the process called cell division. Which of the
following support this statement?
A. Cell is the basic unit of life.
B. Cell is the basic unit of function and structure.
C. All living and non-living things are made up of cells.
D. The cell comes from the division of pre-existing cells.

15. Which of the following is TRUE about cells?

I. Cells can either be unicellular or multicellular.
II. Cells are the smallest unit of life.
III. Cells are the products of another cell.

Which of them supports the Cell Theory?

A. I & II only
B. II & III only
C. I & III only
D. I, II, & III

Lesson Cell Theory

Cell Theory is one of the most essential principles in Biology. From the single
cells like bacteria that make up the most basic organisms to trillions of cells that
made up the complex structure of animals and plants, every living organism is
composed of cells. The Cell Theory gives us the fundamental understanding that
cells are the building blocks of life.

What’s In

Activity 1
In your previous grade levels in high school, you have learned about the levels
of organization of living things. Can you still remember the levels of organization
from smallest to highest level? This activity below will help you remember these
concepts.

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 Read the words in the box. Arrange them in chronological order from the
smallest level to highest level. Copy the boxes below in your notebook. Write your
answers in the box.

Tissue Community Organ System

Biosphere Cell
Ecosystem
Organ Population Organism

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

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 What’s New

Activity 2

Consider the timeline below. Answer the questions that follow.

Questions:
1. What discovery had the major impact to the formation of Cell Theory?
Explain your answer.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

2. Which among the scientists mentioned in the timeline had the biggest
impact to the formation of Cell Theory? Explain your answer.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

3. What do you think were the evidences when Virchow stated that cells arise
from existing cells?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

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 What Is It

Origins of Cell Theory

1. Robert Hooke (1665)

• Robert Hooke was the first scientist to use the word “cells” in 1665. Hooke
used it to describe the small chambers within a cork that he observed under
a microscope. The microscope was of his own design.
• Hooked observed that the thin sections of the cork resembled “Honey-comb”
or small “Boxes or bladders of air”. He noted that each cell was distinct from
the others. At that time, he was not aware that the cork cells were just long
dead cells that lacked internal structures.

2. Matthias Schleiden (1938)

• Matthias Schleiden was a German botanist who made an extensive
microscopic observation of plants and described them as being composed of
the cells. He postulated or hypothesized that every living thing is made up of
cells or the product of the cells.
• Schleiden also believed that cells formed through crystallization, rather than
cell division.

3. Theodor Schwann (1939)

• Theodor Schwann was a German physiologist who made microscopic

observations of animal tissue.
• In 1839, after a conversation between Schleiden and Schwann, Schwann
realized that there are similarities existed between their observations of plant
and animal tissues. This led to the concept that cells are essential components
of plants and animals. As a result, cytology (study of cells) began. It also
concluded that cell is the smallest unit of all living matter.

4. Rudolph Virchow (1958)

• Rudolph Virchow was a pathologist who published an editorial essay entitled

“Cellular Pathology”, which popularized the concept of Cell Theory. The essay
used the Latin phrase omnis cellula a cellula, which means all cells arise from
cells.

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 • Virchow was also known as the Father of Pathology. He was the first one to
determine the causes of various diseases by examining their effects to tissues
and organs.

Upon learning the origin and the concepts of Cell Theory, refer on this link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OpBylwH9DU. It is a video that briefly
discusses more about the history of Cell Theory.
Cell Theory

The ideas of all three scientists namely, Schwann, Schleiden, and Virchow, led
to the development of Cell Theory, which is one of the fundamental theories
unifying all the topics in Biology. The Cell Theory states that:

1. All living organisms are made up of one or more cells.

The first statement explains that all living things, whether microscopic
or macroscopic, simple or complex, of any classification, are made up of either
one or more than one cells.
There are living organisms that are made up of one cell called
unicellular or single celled organisms. Examples of unicellular organisms are
bacteria and protozoans. There are also living organisms that are made up of
more than one cell called multicellular or multi-celled organisms. Animals,
plants, and fungi are multicellular organisms.

2. The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life.

All biological or living processes that occur within the body for it to
survive happen in the cells. For example, red blood cells are important to our
body. These cells carry oxygen to the different parts of the body. Oxygen is
important in cellular respiration. You learned in previous grades that some
of the living processes include reproduction, digestion or nutrition, and
excretion. All these processes start with the cells.

3. Cells arise from pre-existing cells.

Every cell comes from one another cell that existed or lived before it.
This postulate of the Cell Theory refers to the process of cell division, where
one cell divides to produce two or more cells. This is the basis of cellular
reproduction.

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 What’s More

Activity 3
As you learned about the Cell Theory, you learn that there were scientists who
contributed to the discovery of cell and the development of Cell Theory.

Create your own timeline showing the chronological order of the scientists and their
important contributions.

Here is what should be on your timeline:

✓ Scientists’ names and the corresponding contributions.

✓ The scientist who contributed first to the Cell Theory must be written first.

CELL THEORY HISTORICAL TIMELINE

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Activity 4
In the next activity, think of simple processes and concepts presenting evidence
to the three statements of Cell Theory. Refer from the given example below.

Example: Cells arise from pre-existing cells. Unicellular organisms such as

bacteria reproduce asexually through the process of binary fission. In binary fission,
one parent cell splits to produce two daughter cells.

1. All living organisms are made up of one or more cells.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

2. The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

3. Cells arise from pre-existing cells.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

What I Have Learned

Activity 5
1. The Cell Theory is one of the main principles of Biology.
2. The three scientists who contributed to the development of Cell Theory:
a. ___________________________
b. ___________________________
c. ___________________________

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 3. The Cell Theory states the following points:
a. ______________________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________________________
c. ___________________________________________________________

What I Can Do

Activity 6

The statements or postulates of Cell Theory have been found to be true for all life
forms. For the next activity, identify which statement of the Cell Theory supports the
situation provided. Choose from the statement below and fill the boxes by drawing
the icons before each number.

All living organisms are made up of one or more cells.

The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life.

Cells arise from pre-existing cells.

1. A mother gives birth to a child.

2. You cannot see bacteria that cause diseases, but they are all
around, so a person needs to be clean in his/her
surroundings.

3. Plant cells contain chloroplast which carries out

photosynthesis.

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 Assessment

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your answers on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. Who was the first person to see cells under the microscope?
A. Robert Hooke
B. Theodor Schwann
C. Matthias Schleiden
D. Anton van Leeuwenhoek

2. Who discovered that plants are made of cells?

A. Robert Hooke
B. Theodor Schwann
C. Matthias Schleiden
D. Anton van Leeuwenhoek

3. Which of the following scientists contributed to the Cell Theory?

A. Theodor Schwann, Albert Einstein, Robert Hooke
B. Robert Hooke, Charles Darwin, Anton Van Leuwenhoek
C. Matthias Schleiden, Theodore Schwann, Rudolf Virchow
D. Anton Van Leeuwenhoek, Albert Einstein, Matthias Schleiden

4. Who discovered that all animals are composed of cells, which later contributed
to the development of Cell Theory?
A. Robert Hooke
B. Theodor Schwann
C. Matthias Schleiden
D. Anton Van Leeuwenhoek

5. Which of the following is NOT part of the Cell Theory?

A. Cells came from other cells.
B. All living things reproduce and develop.
C. All living things are made up of one or more cells.
D. Cells are the structural and functional units of organisms.

6. Viruses such as COVID – 19 can replicate themselves by using enzymes and

parts of the host cell. Are the principles of Cell Theory applicable to viruses?
A. No, viruses are not living organisms.
B. Yes, viruses arise from another virus like other cells.
C. Yes, viruses are considered as single – celled organisms.
D. No, viruses do not come from other viruses and they need a host to survive.

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7. Which of the following supports the postulates of the Cell Theory?
I. Liver cells contain two nuclei.
II. Egg cell undergoing mitosis
III. White blood cell does not contain mitochondria.
IV. Tissues from kidneys contain cells that act as their building blocks.

A. I & II
B. II & III
C. II & IV
D. I & IV

8. Which cell process best explains the statement, “Cell comes from a division of
pre-existing cell”?
A. Secretion
B. Homeostasis
C. Reproduction
D. Photosynthesis

9. Who was the first person to use the name cell?

A. Robert Hooke
B. Theodor Schwann
C. Matthias Schleiden
D. Anton van Leeuwenhoek

10. Which of the following is exempted from Cell Theory?

A. Viruses
B. Bacteria
C. Plant Cells
D. Animal Cells

11. Which of the following best explains the Latin phrase, “omnis cellula a cellula”?
A. Cell is the basic unit of life.
B. Cell is the basic unit of function and structure.
C. All living and non-living things are made up of cells.
D. The cell comes from the division of pre-existing cells.

12. Which of the following refers to the study of cells?

A. Biology
B. Cytology
C. Ecology
D. Neurology

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 13. Which of the following is an example of unicellular organism?
A. Fox
B. Mosses
C. Mushroom
D. Paramecium

14. New cells are created by the process called cell division. Which of the following
support this statement?
A. Cells can reproduce.
B. Cells have adaptations.
C. Cells can grow and develop.
D. Cells are compartmentalized.

15. Which of the following is TRUE about cells?

I. All cells are unicellular.
II. All cells are multicellular.
III. Cells are capable of reproduction.

Which of them supports the Cell Theory?

A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. I, II, & III

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 Additional Activities

Create a simple slogan that will present the importance of Cell Theory in our
everyday lives. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
SCORING RUBRICS
NOTE: These rubrics will be used in checking your slogan.

Exceeded Met Most Met some Did not meet

Criterion Expectations Expectations Expectations Expectations Score
(4 points) (3 points) (2 points) (1 point)
The words are The words are The words are The whole words
original and original but not very original are not original,
with clear there are and there are and the message
Content
theme. It allows elements that elements that is not conveyed.
(4 Points)
the reader to are not are not
understand the excellent. excellent.
lesson clearly.
The slogan is The slogan is The slogan is The slogan is
attractive, neat, attractive, neat, acceptably distractingly
well – with good attractive but a messy and does
constructed, construction, little bit messy not show any
Creativity
and a lot of and a large and a small efforts.
(4 Points)
efforts were amount of amount of
used to make or efforts were efforts were
decorate it. used to make or used to make or
decorate it. decorate it.
The writer The writer’s
organized the work is
Organization information unorganized and
(2 Points) clearly and uses difficult to
correct grammar follow.
and spelling.

TOTAL

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 References

(1) “Discovery of Cells and Cell Theory”, Biology Libre Texts, accessed June 4,
2020, https://bio.libretexts.org/ Discovery_of_Cells_and_Cell_Theory

(2) “Foundations of Modern Cell Theory,” Lumen Microbiology, accessed June 4,

2020, https://courses.lumenlearning.com/foundations-of-modern-
cell-theory/

(3) Mader and Pendarvis. 2007. Biology Ninth Edition. Avenue of Americas, New
York: McGraw – Hill Companies, Inc.

Video

(1) TED-Ed. (June 2012). The wacky history of cell theory [Video file]. Retrieved
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OpBylwH9DU

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 Development Team of the Module
Writer: Louise Lyn A. Angeles (SEHS)
Editors: Reynald Alfred A. Recede (MHS)
Maria Carmina R. Martin (MHS)
Russel S. Berador (SEHS)
Nancy E. Suegay (PSDS)
Reviewer: Jessica S. Mateo (EPS – Science)
Illustrator: Christine G. Faraon (BNHS)
Layout Artist: Ed-Angelo P. Tan (SEHS)
Management Team:
Sheryll T. Gayola
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
OIC, Office of the Schools Division Superintendent

Elisa O. Cerveza
Chief, Curriculum Implementation Division
OIC, Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

Jessica S. Mateo
Education Program Supervisor – Science

Ivy Coney A. Gamatero

Education Program Supervisor – Learning Resource Management Section

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Schools Division Office - Marikina City

191 Shoe Ave., Sta. Elena, Marikina City, 1800, Philippines

Telefax: (02) 8682-2472 / 8682-3989

Email Address: [email protected]

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