Question

The cell is the basic structural unit of living organisms. What does the statement mean?

Answer 1

Hint: The first living cells were observed by Robert Hooke. He observed cells after he improved the design of his microscope which consisted of three lenses and a stage light, which illuminated and enlarged the specimens.

Complete answer:
Robert Hooke first observed cells in the cork which he described as microscopic pores. He came to call them cells because it appeared to him like the cells of the monastery.
Observance of cells under the microscope by various scientists led to the development of cell theory. The postulates of cell theory are as follows
1. The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms.
2. New cells are formed from the pre-existing cells.
3. All metabolic reactions take place inside cells.
One of the postulates of cell theories states that the cell is the structural and functional unit of life. It is mainly because all the cellular and metabolic activities essential to life occur inside the cells. This helps the cells to grow and causes the overall growth of an organism.
The cells are the smallest units that further makeup tissues. These tissues differentiate to give rise to organ and organ systems having highly specialized functions.

Note: Cells have many important functions. They form the basic building blocks of life. They take up food and then they are converted into energy. This energy helps the cells to grow and divide. They carry out important and major processes like cell division, metabolism, growth, cell signaling, and many others.