Every single textbook I come across refers to DNA as a molecule, but why ?
From my understanding it is not a single molecule but a *cluster* of molecular fragments (we call those fragments "chromosomes" and we define regions on the chromosome molecules as "genes"; so genes are not really entities of their own (yet another perennial confusion there) )
As such, why isn't every textbook on the planet refer to our genetic material as a DNA "cluster" (or DNA moleculeS ?) Am I completely misunderstanding what is really going on ?
Ok, some more clarification in view of some of the responses.
An object is something that sticks together when you pick it up. It has an outline. As such, I see a molecule as a microscopic object. (the fact that it is made of atoms or nucleotides, or subatomic particles, or whatever is beyond the scope of the question).
If DNA was a pile of string in a bowl and you found an end and pulled on it ... would it unravel as a single piece ? Would I be able to use it and fly a kite ? or use it as a clothesline to hung my clothes ? ... or is it a collection of *several* detached sort threads ? (each thread being a double helix of nucleotides called a chromosome)
From my understanding it is not a single molecule but a *cluster* of molecular fragments (we call those fragments "chromosomes" and we define regions on the chromosome molecules as "genes"; so genes are not really entities of their own (yet another perennial confusion there) )
As such, why isn't every textbook on the planet refer to our genetic material as a DNA "cluster" (or DNA moleculeS ?) Am I completely misunderstanding what is really going on ?
Ok, some more clarification in view of some of the responses.
An object is something that sticks together when you pick it up. It has an outline. As such, I see a molecule as a microscopic object. (the fact that it is made of atoms or nucleotides, or subatomic particles, or whatever is beyond the scope of the question).
If DNA was a pile of string in a bowl and you found an end and pulled on it ... would it unravel as a single piece ? Would I be able to use it and fly a kite ? or use it as a clothesline to hung my clothes ? ... or is it a collection of *several* detached sort threads ? (each thread being a double helix of nucleotides called a chromosome)