Who first recognized the cell as the universal unit of life?

Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann are credited with establishing the idea that all living things are made of cells, making the cell the basic universal unit of life. Hooke named “cells” after observing cork, while van Leeuwenhoek observed living microorganisms. Virchow later added that cells arise from preexisting cells. So the correct choice is Schleiden and Schwann.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.