- The cell is the basic unit of structure and function of all living organisms. Cells were first discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665. - The cell theory states that all living things are made of cells, new cells are produced from existing cells, and cells are the basic units of life. - Cells come in a wide range of sizes, from bacteria which are 0.1-0.5 micrometers, to ostrich egg cells which are 170x130 mm. - Key parts of the cell include the cell membrane, cytoplasm, organelles like mitochondria and ribosomes, the nucleus containing DNA, and structures that vary between plant and animal cells like chloroplasts and vacuoles.