n. in biology, refers to the scientific study which proposes that cells are the basic unit of structure making up all living organisms. First proposed for plants by German botanist Matthias Schleiden (1804-1881) and for animals by German physiologist Theodor Schwann (1810-1882).
CELL THEORY: “Cell theory refers to the principle which states that all living things consist of one (unicellular) or more cells (multicellular).”