As microscope technology improved over time, the magnification became advanced enough to discover cells in the 17th century. this discovery is largely attributed to robert hooke, and began the scientific study of cells, also known as cell biology. over a century later, debate continued among scientists about how cells began. most of these debates involved the nature of cell reproduction, and the idea of cells as a fundamental unit of life. cell theory was eventually formulated in 1839. the three tenets to the cell theory are as described below: 1. all living organisms are composed of one or more cells. 2. the cell is the basic unit of structure and organization in organisms. 3. cells arise from pre-existing cells. how does cell division prove the cell theory? a) cell division demonstrates spontaneous generation. b) cell division demonstrates that cells come from preexisting cells. c) cell division demonstrates that all living organisms are composed of one or more cells. d) cell division demonstrates that the cell is the basic unit of structure and organization in organisms.