Thanks for the clarification, Drew. I realise that "showing it like it really is" would just make it a big confusing mess and would defeat the whole point of the animation. It was just your statements about realism that set off some alarm bells for me.

I would also like to say that I am a huge admirer of your work and the similar works of others. I mentioned earlier that I dabble in 3D modelling of biological systems (using Blender) and have even had a picture (a 3D representation of HIV) used on a book cover. Having some hint of an idea of how difficult this is, I am therefore completely gobsmacked by the beauty, ingenuity and quality of works such as yours. As others have pointed out, their value in the education arena is probably enormous. I can imagine that seeing your animations during a high school biology class would inspire many to consider a career in the field. I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.