Prokaryotic cells were discovered by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek in the 17th century. He was a Dutch scientist who is often referred to as the ‘Father of Microbiology.’ Using his handmade microscopes, Leeuwenhoek was the first to observe and describe single-celled organisms, which we now know as prokaryotic cells.
Prokaryotic cells are characterized by the absence of a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. They are simpler in structure compared to eukaryotic cells. Leeuwenhoek’s discovery was groundbreaking because it revealed a whole new world of microscopic life that was previously unknown.