"And that is a good story, one most of us learned very early on in our
science training. (I seem to recall we used the word 'organic' rather than
'biomolecule', but no matter)."
He did; I simply used modern vernacular. However, at that time there was no
significance difference between "organic" and "biomolecule".
"Urea, of course, is no more 'living' than the rocks in my driveway!"
That depends upon what you mean by "living". Even biologists can't agree;
that's why "living" is generally defined as simply being part of a
biological system. That counts for molecules as well as organisms. So to a
biochemist urea is a "living" chemical, hence the terms "biochemical" or
"biomolecule".
"(I almost said my head)."
I'm not going to touch that with a ten-foot pole.
"Since I would not agree that urea is living matter, not in any substantive
meaning of the word, I have to modify the above somewhat."
Then I guess the question is, are you going to use scientific terminology or
use your own?
Kevin L. O'Brien