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The Cell and Protoplasm as Container, Object, and Substance, 1835-1861.

Daniel Liu1

  • 1Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 919 W Illinois St, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA. liud@illinois.edu.

Journal of the History of Biology
|December 7, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The protoplasm concept evolved from critiques of cell theory, shifting from a botanical term to "living substance." This transformation required accepting life in formless matter and a new understanding of biological matter

Keywords:
CambiumCellCoagulationMatterPrimordial utricleProtoplasm

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Area of Science:

  • History of Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Philosophy of Science

Background:

  • The concept of protoplasm emerged from critiques of early cell theory.
  • Understanding protoplasm's development is crucial for comprehending the history of cell biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To trace the evolution of the protoplasm concept from the 1840s to the 1860s.
  • To analyze the conceptual shifts in biological materialism necessary for protoplasm theory's acceptance.
  • To explore the role of ontological metaphors in understanding early cell and protoplasm theories.

Main Methods:

  • Historical analysis of primary scientific literature, including Schleiden and Schwann's writings on cell theory.
  • Close examination of Hugo von Mohl's definitions of protoplasm and primordial utricle.
  • Application of Lakoff and Johnson's theory of ontological metaphors.

Main Results:

  • Protoplasm transformed from a botanical term to "living substance" or "physical basis of life."
  • Two key shifts in biological materialism were necessary: accepting life in formless matter and a dynamic view of biological matter.
  • Mohl's 1846 definition of protoplasm represented a significant departure from his earlier primordial utricle theory.

Conclusions:

  • The historical development of protoplasm theory was intertwined with fundamental changes in the understanding of biological matter.
  • Ontological metaphors (container, object, substance) help explain the complex early history of cell and protoplasm theories.
  • Protoplasm theory achieved equal status with cell theory due to these conceptual advancements in biological materialism.