While Robert Hooke is credited with observing what we now know as the cytoplasm, he didn't name it. Here's a breakdown:
Initial Observation
- In 1665, Robert Hooke, using a microscope, examined a thin slice of cork.
- He saw empty box-like structures which he called "cells."
- What Hooke was actually observing was the plant cell wall and the area inside which is referred to as the cytoplasm.
Naming of Cytoplasm
- The name "cytoplasm" was given much later, in 1874, by Rudolf Von Kolliker.
Summary
While Robert Hooke was the first to visualize the space containing the cytoplasm, which he saw as an empty space in cells, the name "cytoplasm" was assigned almost two centuries later by Rudolf Von Kolliker. So, to be precise, Hooke observed it, but Von Kolliker named it.
| Discovery Event | Discoverer | Year |
|---|---|---|
| First Observation | Robert Hooke | 1665 |
| Name Assigned | Rudolf Von Kolliker | 1874 |
Key Points:
- Robert Hooke's discovery of the cell included observing the space where the cytoplasm resides.
- Rudolf Von Kolliker named this substance the "cytoplasm" much later.
- The term cytoplasm refers to the gel like substance within a cell and does not contain the cell nucleus.
