During the nineteenth century, Schwann, Schleiden, and Virchow were credited with the creation of cell theory. Two important points of cell theory are that the cell is the basic unit of life, and that cells come from other cells. Why was this finding so important?

Question

During the nineteenth century, Schwann, Schleiden, and Virchow were credited with the creation of cell theory. Two important points of cell theory are that the cell is the basic unit of life, and that cells come from other cells. Why was this finding so important?

Biology and its makers. Biology -- History. THE CELL THEORY 255 number—commonly from two to twenty-four—in different •" 9 parts of animals and plants, they are, neyertheless, of the same number

a
They proved that the cell is the smallest structure in an organism.
b
They proved that cells have an increasingly complicated hierarchy.
c
They proved that spontaneous generation does not occur.
d
They proved that genetic adaptivity happens over time.

Answer 1

The most important finding of cell theory was that cells come from other cells. This meant that all living organisms are made up of cells, and each cell originates from a pre-existing cell. This refuted the idea of spontaneous generation, which was a widely accepted belief at the time. This finding laid the foundation for understanding the principles of inheritance, growth, and development in living organisms. It also provided a fundamental framework for the study of biology and paved the way for future advancements in the field of genetics and cell biology.