What are the greatest unifying theories in science?

Answer 1

The "cell theory" is a unifying concept in Biology. The cell theory states:

1. All organisms consists of one or more cells

2. The cell is the basic unit of structure for all organisms

3. All cells arise only from preexisting cells

This theory bridges the gap between the old belief of "spontaneous generation" and the modern view of cells and the origins of life. It is because of this theory that modern biological advances have been possible.

Answer 2

There is no one unifying theory in biology. Most people consider the theory of evolution to be the unifying theory but the cell theory, the gene theory and the theory of homeostasis are also to be considered equally.

Answer 3

The first unifying theory was Maxwell's theory of electromagetism, explaining the electric force, the magnetic force and electromagnetic radiation in one set of equations.

Sheldon Glashow successfully proposed a theory to unify the weak force with the electromagnetic force.

Theories unifying the strong force have not been able to be tested, and there has been no theory yet able to unify gravity with the others.

The standard model unifies the existence of particles, how they interact, and very recently how they get mass. NB this is not part of the "unified field theory" which deals with the above four fundamental forces.

I am not aware of unifying theories in other branches of science.

Answer 4

The most fundamental theory in biology is the theory of evolution.