By considering a statistical model for the quark content of the nucleon, wh
ere the quark levels are generated by a Dirac equation with a harmonic scal
ar-plus-vector potential, we note that a good fit for the ratio between the
structure functions of the neutron and proton, F-2(n)/F-2(p), can be obtai
ned if different strengths are used for the effective confining potentials
of the up and down quarks.