The first person to use the term "cell" to refer to the tiny units of life was Robert Hooke, a British scientist. In 1665, Hooke observed thin slices of cork under a microscope and noticed small, box-like compartments that reminded him of the cells in a monastery. He named these compartments "cells" because of their resemblance to these structures.
Hooke's discovery was a groundbreaking moment in the history of biology, as it marked the beginning of the study of cells. While Hooke was observing dead plant cells, his work laid the foundation for future scientists to understand the complex structure and function of living organisms at the cellular level.
