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Nanotechnology: Test Your Understanding
Teacher's Guide
How long is a nanometer compared to a millimeter?
Because a nanometer is one billionth of a meter, and a millimeter is one thousandth of a meter,
a nanometer is one millionth of a millimeter.
How is a ribosome an example of a biological nanosystem?
A nanosystem manufactures components at the molecular level. Because a ribosome
manufactures protein molecules from amino acids in a directed fashion, it can be described
as a biological nanosystem.
Critical Thinking: How might nanotechnology impact the field of cell biology in the future?
Sample answer: Because nanomaterials are minuscule when compared to the size of a cell, nanosys-
tems could function within a cell, allowing biologists to manipulate the internal workings of a cell.