CELL STRUCTURES AND FUNCTION
CELL CYCLE
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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The cell is bigger.
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The cell is smaller.
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Either A or B
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None of the above
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Detailed explanation-1: -The surface area to volume ratio gets smaller as the cell gets larger. Thus, if the cell grows beyond a certain limit, not enough material will be able to cross the membrane fast enough to accommodate the increased cellular volume. So, a small size favours the efficient diffusion of gases and nutrients.
Detailed explanation-2: -As the radius of a cell increases, its surface area increases as the square of its radius, but its volume increases as the cube of its radius (much more rapidly). Therefore, as a cell increases in size, its surface area-to-volume ratio decreases.
Detailed explanation-3: -Smaller cells have a much greater surface area to volume ratio allowing material to diffuse throughout the entire volume of the cell quickly and efficiently.
Detailed explanation-4: -As cells grow larger, the ratio of surface area to volume decreases dramatically, just like in your agar cubes. Larger cells must still transport materials across their membranes, but have a larger volume to supply and a proportionately smaller surface area through which to do so.