what is the smallest entity that exhibits all the characteristics of life
1. Schleiden (a botanist) and Schwann (a zoologist): believed that all plants and animals consist of cells. 2. Virchow: cells come from preexisting cells. C. The Cell Theory: three generalizations: 1. All organisms are composed of one or more cells. 2. The cell is the smallest unit having the properties of life. 3. The continuity of life arises directly from the growth and division of single cells. I. Basic Aspects of Cell Structure and Function. A. Structural Organization of Cells. 1. The cell is the smallest entity that still retains the characteristics of life. 2. All cells have three basic parts: a.