Do cells consist of chemical compounds?

Question

I used to learn in Physics that everything that has weight consists of atoms.

While in biology, all living things consist of cells.

But when I asked my teacher back then, she said that cells are not made of atoms, neutrons, protons or electrons. Is this true? If so, then what are cells made of?

Answer 1

Your teacher probably wanted you to think bigger. While it is true that all living things, and indeed all matter, consists of protons, neutrons and electrons, the molecules in cells consists of hundreds of thousands of these subatomic particles. So to answer your question in the way your teacher would have liked it, cells are made of enzymes, proteins and many functional structures that work together to keep the cell alive. These enzymes and proteins do in fact consist of subatomic particles.
Just as a side note, you probably mean "that everything that has MASS consists of atoms" as weight is just a false entity perpetrated by the evil gravity.

Answer 2

Not EVERYTHING is made of atoms, but all cells most definitley are made of atoms. Therefore, they are made of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Answer 3

Cells are made of protons neutrons and electrons.

Answer 4

Cells are made up of organelles, which are made up of organic compounds, which are made up of molecules, which are made up of elements, which are made of of atoms. Convinced? We could go up to macro-organisms or go down to subatomic particles.

In physics, the basic structure is the atom. In biology it is the cell. In sociology it is the individual person.

Answer 5

yes
Chemical Foundations for Cells
• Goal: Basic understanding of chemistry

• Organisms, their tissues and their cells are ultimately composed of atoms and molecules

• Many important biological processes are chemical reactions -- e.g. metabolism, photosynthesis, growth.

Answer 6

of course cells are made of atoms! EVERYTHING is made up of atoms...duh