Schwann, Theodor

[person]

German physiologist and histologist born in Neuss, Germany (1810-1882). Schwann cofounded (with Matthias Schleiden) the cell theory. He elaborated on Schleiden's work and showed that cells are the basis of both plant and animal tissue. He also demonstrated that yeast is an organism and published Microscopical Researches in the Structure and Growth of Animals and Plants (1839, translation 1847).