EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -The reason cells can grow only to a certain size has to do with their surface area to volume ratio. Here, surface area is the area of the outside of the cell, called the plasma membrane. The volume is how much space is inside the cell. The ratio is the surface area divided by the volume.

Detailed explanation-2: -Here, surface area is the area of the outside of the cell, called the plasma membrane. The volume is how much space is inside the cell.

Detailed explanation-3: -The relevant volumes thus range from 1 × 10− 17 liters to about one-half microliter. Bacteria typically have a volume of the order of 2 × 10− 16 liter (Halling, 1989). The volume of an average mammalian tissue culture cell is approximately 4 picoliter (Alberts et al., 1994).

Detailed explanation-4: -Cells are limited in size by their surface area to volume ratio. That is, their plasma membrane (surface area) must be large enough to import nutrients and excrete wastes for the entire cytoplasm (volume) of the cell. As cells get larger, their surface area to volume ratio increases, which is why cells are very small.