Difference between Cell Theory and Modern Cell Theory

Cell Theory 1839

Proposed by Theodor Schwann (1810–1882) and Matthias Jakob Schleiden (1804–1881)

1. All living organisms are composed of one or more cells.

2. The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all living things.

The third tenet was proposed by Rudolf Virchow, a German Pathologist (1821–1902) in 1855

3. Cells arise from pre-existing cells “Omnis cellula e cellula” (by cell division; mitosis or meiosis; not derived from spontaneous generation)

Background:

Schleiden in 1838, German botanist, found out cell as the basic unit of plant structure.

Theodor Schwann, a German physiologist in 1839 defined cell as the basic unit of animal structure also. In 1839, they together proposed the two statements of the present cell theory.

5 Examples of Exceptions to Cell Theory

Modern Cell Theory

The knowledge of the advancement in the field of molecular biology, biochemistry, etc. is considered to make the following additions to the above classical cell theory

4. Cells contain heredity information in their DNA. This information is passed to new cells by cell division.

5. All cells have the same basic chemical composition.

6. Energy flow (Metabolism and biochemistry) occurs within cells.

The other major contributors to the Cell Theory are Robert Hooke; who coined the tern “cell” and Antonie van Leeuwenhoek; who was the first one to observe living organisms under his own microscope.