The name "cell" was chosen because the box-shaped structures Robert Hooke observed in cork reminded him of the small rooms, or cells, in monasteries.
Here's a breakdown:
- Discovery: Robert Hooke discovered cells in 1665 while examining cork under a microscope, an invention that revolutionized biology.
- Observation: He noticed tiny, box-like compartments.
- Inspiration: These compartments resembled the small rooms occupied by monks in a monastery.
- Naming: As stated in the reference, Hooke called these structures "cells" because of their resemblance to the "cells, or rooms, in monasteries." (19-Oct-2023)
Essentially, the name is based on a visual analogy. The term stuck and has been used ever since to describe the fundamental unit of life.
