In response to an open invitation for comments on AAAS project 2061's Benchmark books on science. Part 1: documentation of serious errors in cell biology.
Project 2061 was founded by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to improve secondary school science education. An in-depth study of ten 9 to 12th grade biology textbooks led to the verdict that none conveyed "Big Ideas" that would give coherence and meaning to the profusion of lavishly illustrated isolated details. However, neither the Project report itself nor the Benchmark books put out earlier by the Project carries what deserves the designation of "Big Ideas." Worse, in the two earliest-published Benchmark books, the basic unit of all life forms--the living cell--is described as a soup enclosed by a cell membrane, that determines what can enter or leave the cell. This is astonishing since extensive experimental evidence has unequivocally disproved this idea 60 years ago. A "new" version of the membrane theory brought in to replace the discredited (sieve) version is the pump model--currently taught as established truth in all high-school and college biology textbooks--was also unequivocally disproved 40 years ago. This comment is written partly in response to Bechmark's gracious open invitation for ideas to improve the books and through them, to improve US secondary school science education.
Ling
Gilbert
G
Damadian Foundation for Basic and Cancer Research, Tim and Kim Ling Foundation for Basic and Cancer Research, Melville, NY 11747, USA. gilbertling@dobar.org
D001877:Books; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D008954:Models, Biological; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D012586:Science / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000502:physiology*; D014481:United States
D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase