Matthias Jakob Schleiden
The Co-founder of Cell Theory
April 5, 1804
Today is the birthday of the German botanist and early evolutionist Matthias Jakob Schleiden.
Along with Theodor Schwann, Matthias was also the co-founder of the cell theory. Matthias was the first person to recognize the importance of cells in plants.
Later, he speculated on the role of the nucleus in cell division. It was Matthias Schleiden who said,
"Youthful fancy lends to the rock, the tree, the flower, an animating genius, and in the thunder hears the voice of God. Then comes earnest science stripping Nature of that inspiring charm, and substituting the unvarying law of blind necessity."
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Matthias Jakob Schleiden
