There isn't a single person credited with "discovering" cell reproduction. It was a gradual understanding developed over time by many scientists. Here's a breakdown of key contributions:

* Robert Hooke (1665): Hooke was the first to use the term "cell" after observing the compartmentalized structure of cork under a microscope. However, he didn't understand cell function or reproduction.

* Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1670s): Leeuwenhoek observed living cells, including bacteria and sperm cells, and described their movement. But he didn't understand how they replicated.

* Robert Brown (1831): Brown identified the nucleus within cells, which later turned out to be crucial for cell division.

* Rudolf Virchow (1855): Virchow proposed the famous "Omnis cellula e cellula" (all cells come from cells), solidifying the understanding that new cells arise from pre-existing cells.

* Walter Flemming (1879): Flemming described the process of mitosis, the division of the nucleus and chromosomes, in detail.

* Eduard Strasburger (1880s): Strasburger further investigated the processes of mitosis and meiosis, providing more comprehensive understanding of how cells divide.

So, while no single person discovered cell reproduction, the work of many scientists over centuries led to our current understanding of this essential biological process.