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Not to be confused with army general Theodore Schwan.

Theodor Schwann
Theodor Schwann
Born	December 7, 1810
Died	January 11, 1882
Nationality	German
Fields	zoology
Known for	Schwann cells

Theodor Schwann (December 7, 1810 – January 11, 1882) was a German zoologist. His many contributions to biology include the development of cell theory, the discovery of Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system, the discovery and study of pepsin, the discovery of the organic nature of yeast, and the invention of the term metabolism.

Vitalism and germ theory

Schwann was thus the first of Müller's pupils who broke with the traditional vitalism and worked towards a physico-chemical explanation of life.He came to discover the cell one day when he was paying particular attention to the cytoplasm of the plant cell he noticed its jelly like consistency and then went on to view the animal cell which did not have one and noted that they had different properties. Müller also directed Schwann's attention to the process of digestion, which Schwann showed in 1837 to depend essentially on the presence of a ferment he called pepsin. Schwann also examined the question of spontaneous generation, which led to its eventual disproof. In the course of his experiments, he discovered the organic nature of yeast. In fact the whole germ theory of Pasteur, as well as its antiseptic applications by Lister, can be traced to Schwann's influence.

Theory

Once, when Schwann was dining with Matthias Jakob Schleiden (who in 1837 had viewed and stated that new plant cells formed from the nuclei of old plant cells) in 1837, the conversation turned on the nuclei of plants and animal cells. Schwann remembered seeing similar structures in the cells of the notochord (as had been shown by Müller) and instantly realized the importance of connecting the two phenomena. The resemblance was confirmed without delay by both observers, and the results soon appeared in his famous Microscopic Investigations on the Accordance in the Structure and Growth of Plants and Animals, in which he declared that "All living things are composed of cells and cell products." scanned source(Berlin, 1839; trans. Sydenham Society, 1847). Thus cell theory was definitely constituted. In the course of his verification of cell theory, in which Schwann traversed the whole field of histology, he proved the cellular origin and development of the most highly differentiated tissues including nails, feathers, and tooth enamel.

His generalization became the foundation of modern histology, and in the hands of Rudolf Virchow (whose cellular pathology was an inevitable deduction from Schwann) afforded the means of placing modern pathology on a truly scientific basis.

References

• Aszmann, O C (May. 2000). "The life and work of Theodore Schwann". Journal of reconstructive microsurgery 16 (4): 291-5. ISSN 0743-684X. PMID 10871087. 
• Kosinski, C M (Dec. 2004). "[Theodor Schwann]". Der Nervenarzt 75 (12): 1248. doi:10.1007/s00115-004-1805-5. ISSN 0028-2804. PMID 15368056. 
• Haas, L F (Jan. 1999). "Neurological stamp. Theodore Schwann (1810-82)". J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. 66 (1): 103. ISSN 0022-3050. PMID 9886465. 
• Hayashi, M (1992). "[Theodor Schwann and reductionism]". [[Kagakushi kenkyu. [Journal of the history of science, Japan]] 31 (184): 209-14. ISSN 0022-7692. PMID 11639601. 
• Kruta, V (1987). "The idea of the primary unity of elements in the microscopic structure of animals and plants. J. E. Purkynĕ and Th. Schwann". Folia mendeliana 22: 35-50. ISSN 0085-0748. PMID 11621603. 
• Kiszely, G (Apr. 1983). "[Theodor Schwann]". Orvosi hetilap 124 (16): 959-62. ISSN 0030-6002. PMID 6343953. 
• Lukács, D (Apr. 1982). "[Centenary of the death of Theodor Schwann]". Orvosi hetilap 123 (14): 864-6. ISSN 0030-6002. PMID 7043357. 
• Watermann, R (Jan. 1973). "[Theodor Schwann accepted the honorable appointment abroad]". Medizinische Monatsschrift 27 (1): 28-31. ISSN 0025-8474. PMID 4576700. 
• WATERMANN, R (Dec. 1960). "[Theodor SCHWANN as a maker of lifesaving apparatus.]". Die Medizinische Welt 50: 2682-7. ISSN 0025-8512. PMID 13783359. 
• FLORKIN, M (Sep. 1958). "[Episodes in medicine of the people from Liège: Schwann & the stigmatized.]". Revue médicale de Liège 13 (18): 627-38. ISSN 0370-629X. PMID 13591909. 
• FLORKIN, M (Sep. 1957). "[1838; Year of crisis in the life of Théodore Schwann.]". Revue médicale de Liège 12 (18): 503-10. ISSN 0370-629X. PMID 13466730. 
• FLORKIN, M (Mar. 1957). "[Discovery of pepsin by Theodor Schwann.]". Revue médicale de Liège 12 (5): 139-44. ISSN 0370-629X. PMID 13432398. 
• FLORKIN, M (Nov. 1951). "[Schwann as medical student.]". Revue médicale de Liège 6 (22): 771-7. ISSN 0370-629X. PMID 14892596. 
• FLORKIN, M (Oct. 1951). "[Schwann at the Tricoronatum.]". Revue médicale de Liège 6 (20): 696-703. ISSN 0370-629X. PMID 14883601. 
• FLORKIN, M (May. 1951). "[The family and childhood of Schwann.]". Revue médicale de Liège 6 (9): 231-8. ISSN 0370-629X. PMID 14845235. 

External links

• Short biography and bibliography in the Virtual Laboratory of the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science
• Schwann, Theodor and Schleyden, M. J. 1847. Microscopical researches into the accordance in the structure and growth of animals and plants. London: Printed for the Sydenham Society

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