What about Muller?

A typical list of scientists who deserve credit for the cell theory usually focuses on Matthias Schleiden, Theodor Schwann and Rudolf Virchow.  All three made substantial contributions to our early understanding of the cell, but they were hardly the only ones involved.  One name that would seldom cross the lips of someone who asked about the cell theory, but deserves to, is Johannes Peter Müller.  While he didn’t directly contribute to Schleiden and Schwann’s statement that all living things are made of cells or Virchow’s idea that all cells come from other cells, it could easily be said that both concepts depended greatly on Müller’s influence.

Müller, destined to become one of 19^th century Germany’s most respected scientists, came from humble beginnings as the son of a shoe-maker.  He might have followed in his father’s footsteps if not for Johannes Schulze, a noted educator, who recognized his powerful potential and convinced young Müller’s father to send him to school.  Johannes excelled and began studying medicine and, due to a serendipitous decision by his university, studied under a professor who urged him toward microscopy.

Due to a rather diverse set of research experiences during his formative years, Müller developed a philosophy of scientific research unique at the time.  He rejected the idea of relying solely on either research data or theorizing, instead proposing to carefully observe natural phenomena and attempt to find the underlying patterns.  His uncanny ability to distill the meaning behind his work, not simply observe it, was the core of his life-long success.  His approach also exercised firm influence on the research practices of his students.

Müller made dramatic contributions to the fields of anatomy and physiology, studying everything from the nervous system to molecules in the blood.  A signature characteristic of his research was a tendency to study the same processes in different organisms, rather that only one, hoping to gain a glimpse of how several organisms solve the same problems. 

Müller’s students, which included Virchow and Schwann, noted his discussion of microscopy in his medical lectures, something that surely impacted the work of both these noted scientists.  He was one of the first medical researchers to advocate extensive use of microscopes.  Indeed, he might have made the discoveries that led to the cell theory himself if it weren’t for his wide range of research interests.  Schwann was one of Müller’s favorite students and they worked closely together, with Müller eventually applying Schwann’s discovery that cells are the basic unit of life to research on tumors and other medical issues. 

It is doubtless that Müller’s views on living things, research practices and intellectual support were essential in the paths that Schwann and Virchow both took in their contributions to science.  Even though Schleiden wasn’t one of Müller’s students, Johannes published one of Schleiden’s early papers about the cell.  His impact on the development of the cell theory isn’t often commented on, but Johannes Peter Müller had a hand in the education and career development of the three men most directly credited with the theory.  His support and more subtle influence had made it all possible.

For more information:

A biography of Müller

http://vlp.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/essays/data/enc22?p=1