Who proposed for the first time that cells are totipotent ?

Options

A. Haberlandt
B. Maheshwari
C. Steward
D. White

Answer

To answer the question, "Who proposed for the first time that cells are totipotent?", we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Term "Totipotent":**
- Totipotent cells are those that have the potential to differentiate into any type of cell in an organism. This includes the ability to form a complete organism from a single cell. The most common example of a totipotent cell is a zygote, which can develop into a whole organism.

2. **Identify the Scientists Mentioned:**
- The question provides four options: Haberland, Maheshwari, Steward, and White. We need to determine which of these scientists first proposed the concept of totipotency in cells.

3. **Research the Contributions of Each Scientist:**
- **Haberland:** Known for his work related to cell totipotency.
- **Maheshwari:** Contributed to plant tissue culture but not specifically totipotency.
- **Steward:** Conducted significant research on plant cells and their capabilities but did not propose the concept of totipotency first.
- **White:** Not primarily associated with totipotency.

4. **Determine the Correct Answer:**
- Based on historical context and scientific contributions, it is recognized that Haberland was the first to propose that cells are totipotent. His experiments demonstrated the potential of cells to develop into complete organisms.

5. **Final Answer:**
- The correct answer is **Haberland**.