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?

A. They proved that spontaneous generation does not occur.
B. They proved that the cell is the smallest structure in an organism.
C. They proved that genetic adaptivity happens over time.
D. They proved that cells have an increasingly complicated hierarchy.

Answer 1

A. They proved that spontaneous generation does not occur.

This finding was important because it debunked the idea of spontaneous generation, which was the belief that living organisms could arise from non-living matter. By showing that cells come from other cells, Schwann, Schleiden, and Virchow provided evidence for the theory of biogenesis, which states that living organisms only arise from pre-existing living organisms. This was a significant breakthrough in the field of biology and laid the groundwork for further understanding of the incredibly complex and fundamental nature of cells in all living organisms.