Cell Theory | Who gave cell theory its final shape? | What did he modify? | NTA NEET

Matthias Schleiden and Theodore Schwann are the names of two scientists which inadvertently comes to our mind when we talk about cell theory.

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Matthias Schleiden was a German botanist Who in 1838 performed his studies on the large number of plant cells and observed that all plants are composed of different kinds of cells.

While, Theodore Schwann was a British zoologist Who in 1839 observed a large number of animal cells and concluded that cells had a outer thin covering or layer which is known as plasma membrane in today’s world. He also concluded that the presence of cell wall is a characteristic feature of Plant cells. 

These two scientists formulated a theory which was known as cell theory in which they hypothesised that “All living organisms are composed of cell and products of cell” but they failed to explain how new cells were formed.

Then came third scientist, his name was Rudolf Virchow. In 1855  Rudolf Virchow explained that all cells arise from pre-existing (omnis cellula-e-cellula). The hypothesis was modified after this and cell theory came into final shape after this. So, Rudolf Virchow gave cell theory the final shape.

Cell theory in its final shape:

1. All living organisms are made up of cells and products of cells.
2. All cells arise from Pre-existing cells.

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Author: Shivansh Gaur (M.Sc Biotechnology- CSJMU)