Spottedwind
Posts: 83
Joined: Aug. 2008
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| Quote (Albatrossity2 @ Aug. 30 2008,21:09) | Lou
I think that your understanding of the basic material may be better than some of my students. Here is an email, rec'd tonight, from a student in my intro bio class. The name is withheld to protect the innocent...
| Quote | I was reading the textbook and I am now confused.
On page 4, it defines Atoms as "...the fundamental building blocks of all substances, living and non-living."
Then on page 22, it goes on to say that ... "Atoms differ in the number of subatomic particles, but all have a nucleus..."
--- Back on page 8, it told me that bacteria & archaea are single-celled organisms, but that they are prokaryotic, meaning that they have no nucleus..
..Farther back still, on page four, it says in short : atoms join together to make molecules, and molecules (become organized into?) make cells...
So as I said I am confused. Is the textbook saying that some molecules are formed without atoms? If so, what are they made of?
..Or is page 22 incorrect about all atoms having nuclei or is there something else ?
Thanks for clearing this up |
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You know, it's funny, I never really thought of the ambiguity about 'nucleus'. They were just two different concepts with two different words, in my mind at least.
I mean, I know that it's the same word, but...I don't know, it was just different. Probably partially due to the fact that I am inclined to biology more than chemistry, so cells come to mind more often than atoms, but still.
On one hand, at least the student paid enough attention when reading to even notice that it was the same word used. That's at least somewhat observant.
On the other hand...that should never have left middle school, let alone high school. Maybe even elementary school.
Scary, funny, and strange all at once.
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