Schwann: extending cell theory across plants and animals

What changed

A common cellular structural principle became available for comparing plant and animal organization.

Scientific scope

The 1839 synthesis; not Schleiden's plant contribution, later cell-continuity doctrine, cellular pathology or modern molecular cell biology.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record is the 1839 synthesis; Schleiden’s plant work, later claims about cell continuity and subsequent cellular pathology are separate.

Contributors

• Theodor Schwann · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• University of Liege ORBi: Mikroskopische Untersuchungen (1839)
• Biodiversity Heritage Library: Microscopical researches (1847 translation)
• Marine Biological Laboratory: The theory of cells as basic units of life

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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