Final answer:
The first question to answer in determining if the discovery is a cell is whether it contains DNA, since DNA is essential for a cell's function and replication.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine if the scientist's discovery is indeed a cell, the question that should be answered first is Does it contain DNA? This is because one of the main characteristics of a cell, according to the cell theory, is that it contains DNA which it passes on to daughter cells.
DNA is fundamental to a cell's function and replication. Cells are the basic structural units of all living organisms, and their ability to contain and replicate DNA is essential for both unicellular and multicellular life forms. Therefore, verifying the presence of DNA is a crucial step in confirming whether the discovered entity is a cell.