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

1 answer

The correct answer is a: They proved that spontaneous generation does not occur.

This finding was important because it disproved the previously held belief that organisms could spontaneously generate from non-living matter. By showing that cells come from other cells, it laid the foundation for modern biology and our understanding of how living organisms develop, grow, and reproduce. It also helped to establish the concept of cellular hierarchy and the idea that all living organisms are made up of cells.