Cell theory (Schleiden and Schwann)

What was discovered

Schleiden (plants) and Schwann (animals) established that all living things are composed of cells, the common structural and functional unit of life.

Their explanation of cell origin by crystallisation was mistaken; Virchow corrected it.

What it led to

• histology and cellular pathology
• biology as a unified science
• cellular embryology
• cell and molecular biology

Built on

• The cell (Hooke's Micrographia)1665
• Leeuwenhoek single-lens microscopec. 1670-1674
• Lister's achromatic microscope objective1830
• Hooke's cell
• cell nucleus (Robert Brown, 1831)
• achromatic microscopes

Made possible

• Omnis cellula e cellula (Virchow)1855-1858
• Mitosis and chromosomes (Flemming)1879-1882
• Neuron doctrine (Cajal)1888-1894
• Golgi apparatus1898
• Blood groups and compatible transfusion1901–1907
• Peroxisome, identification of the organelle1954 (microcuerpos) / 1966 (peroxisoma)
• staining techniques and microtome

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