Question

Who observed a thin slice of cork under a crude microscope?
(a) Robert Hooke
(b) Robert Brown
(c) Charles Darwin
(d) Gregor Mendel

Answer 1

Hint: A general description of cork cells was done by an English scientist with the help of a primitive microscope which was the first microscope and used to observe the slice of cork.

Complete answer:
Robert Hooke observed a thin slice of cork under a crude microscope. He was an architect who was the first person to visualise a microorganism and found several architectural surveys. Robert Hooke discovered parenchyma cells in the 17th century. They help in making the chloroplast present in the outer layers known as the cortex and the innermost layer is known as pith. It helps in forming the soft tissues of the fruits. He built the vacuum pump which was used in the experiment of the scientist Boyle in his gas law. The rotations of the planets Mars and Jupiter were observed by Robert Hooke and the hypothesis of heat was explained by Robert Hooke. He described the law of elasticity and linear variation of tension with extension in an elastic spring.

Additional information:
Robert Brown: He was a botanist and contributed towards botany by the use of a microscope. He worked between the gymnosperms and angiosperms. He made contributions towards plant taxonomy by noticing the erected number of plant families and numerous plant genera and species.
Charles Darwin: He was a biologist and a naturalist who was described as one of the influential figures in human history and was known for his contribution towards the science of evolution.
Gregor Mendel: He was a biologist who was the founder of genetics and was known for his cross-breeding of animals and plants which favour several desirable traits.

So, the correct answer is 'Robert Hooke'.

Note:
Robert Hooke is known for his discovery of the word cell in the unit of organisms and his studies of fossils. He made drawings of the bodies present in the solar system and was appointed the Royal Society's first curator of experiments.