The first century of cell theory

from structural units to complex living systems

Jane Maienschein

pp. 43-54

in: Friedrich Stadler (ed), Integrated history and philosophy of science, Berlin, Springer, 2017

Abstract

In his introduction to the volume entitled The Cell and Protoplasm in 1940, the editor Forest Ray Moulton noted that the American Association for the Advancement of Science was publishing the volume as the product of a symposium, held in 1939, to celebrate the centennial of Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann's 1838 cell theory. Because of the rich history of thinking about cells up to that time, "In a sense the Cell Theory is not new." Yet, Moulton suggested, "In another sense the Cell Theory is always new, for every discovery respecting this primary and essential unit of living organisms, both plant and animal, has raised more questions than it has answered and has always widened the fields of inquiry." The volume set out to show both what was already well-established and what was new.