In which year did Matthias Schleiden observe different types of cells in various plant tissue?
a) 1902
b) 1855
c) 1838
d) 1905
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is c) 1838.
Matthias Schleiden, a German botanist, made significant contributions to the development of the cell theory. In 1838, he proposed that all plants are made up of cells. His observations were based on his study of plant tissues under a microscope, where he noticed that plant tissues were composed of various types of cells, all of which had distinct structures and functions. Schleiden’s work was groundbreaking because it was one of the first observations linking the cellular structure to plant biology, suggesting that cells are the fundamental units of plant structure.
Schleiden’s findings built upon the earlier work of others, particularly that of Robert Hooke, who had first coined the term “cell” in 1665, and Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, who improved the microscope and observed single-celled organisms. However, it was Schleiden’s observations in 1838 that helped shape the idea of the cell as the basic building block of plant life. He concluded that the cell was the basic structural and functional unit of all plants, and that each plant’s growth and development could be explained by the formation and division of cells.
Schleiden’s work in 1838 led to the collaboration with Theodor Schwann, a German physiologist, who extended the concept of the cell to animals in 1839. Together, their contributions laid the foundation for what is now known as the Cell Theory, which states that all living organisms are made up of cells, and that the cell is the basic unit of life. This discovery was a pivotal moment in biology, revolutionizing how scientists understood the structure and organization of living organisms.
In conclusion, Matthias Schleiden’s 1838 observations were critical in advancing our understanding of plant biology and contributed significantly to the overall development of cell theory in biology.