AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -As a cell’s size increases, its ratio of surface area to volume (increases.) The (smaller) a cell is, the more difficult it is for the cell to move enough nutrients and wastes across its cell membrane to maintain its normal functions.

Detailed explanation-2: -The larger a cell becomes, the more demands the cell places on its DNA and the more trouble the cell has moving enough nutrients and wastes across the cell membrane.

Detailed explanation-3: -If a cell grows larger, then the volume increases much more rapidly than the surface area, causing the ratio of surface area to volume to decrease. The problem is that the cell would not be able to get enough oxygen and nutrients in and get the waste products out.

Detailed explanation-4: -BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER. A LARGE SURFACE AREA IS BETTER FOR TRANSPORTING MOLECULES ACROSS THE CELL MEMBRANE, BUT A SMALL VOLUME IS BETTER IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCY OF TRANSPORTING MOLECULES THROUGHOUT THE CELL.

Detailed explanation-5: -However, large cells have a way of dealing with some size challenges. Big cells, such as some white blood cells, often grow more nuclei so that they can supply enough proteins and RNA for the cell’s requirements.