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

Answer 1

The correct answer is b. They proved that spontaneous generation does not occur. This finding was important because it disproved the widely accepted theory of spontaneous generation, which stated that living organisms could arise from non-living matter. This discovery laid the foundation for modern biology and our understanding of the origins of life.