Cells were observed prior to Robert Hooke by

Options

A. Aristotle
B. Malpighi
C. Bauhin
D. Eicher

Answer

To solve the question "Cells were observed prior to Robert Hooke by," we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the context of the question
- Robert Hooke is known for his work in 1665, where he first described cells. However, the question asks about observations made before Hooke.

### Step 2: Identify the options provided
- The options given are:
A. Aristotle
B. Malfige
C. Bowen
D. Eckhart

### Step 3: Research the contributions of each scientist
- **Aristotle**: While he made significant contributions to biology, he did not observe cells.
- **Malfige**: Marcello Malpighi, an Italian scientist, studied plant tissues and is known for observing cell structures before Hooke. He referred to these structures as "utricles."
- **Bowen**: There is no significant historical record of a scientist named Bowen related to cell observation.
- **Eckhart**: Similarly, there is no notable contribution from a scientist named Eckhart in the context of cell observation.

### Step 4: Determine the correct answer
- Based on the information gathered, Marcello Malpighi is recognized for observing cells before Robert Hooke. Therefore, the correct answer is **B. Malfige**.

### Final Answer:
The cells were observed prior to Robert Hooke by **B. Malfige**.

---