Asked by josj
Why are cell so small?
Answers
Answered by
John
Why are cells so small?
To answer this question we have to understand that, in order to survive, cells must constantly interact with their surrounding environment.
Gases and food molecules dissolved in water must be absorbed and waste products must be eliminated. For most cells, this passage of all materials in and out of the cell must occur through the plasma membrane (see diagram above).
Each internal region of the cell has to be served by part of the cell surface. As a cell grows bigger, its internal volume enlarges and the cell membrane expands. Unfortunately, the volume increases more rapidly than does the surface area, and so the relative amount of surface area available to pass materials to a unit volume of the cell steadily decreases.
Finally, at some point, there is just enough surface available to service all the interior; if it is to survive, the cell must stop growing.
To answer this question we have to understand that, in order to survive, cells must constantly interact with their surrounding environment.
Gases and food molecules dissolved in water must be absorbed and waste products must be eliminated. For most cells, this passage of all materials in and out of the cell must occur through the plasma membrane (see diagram above).
Each internal region of the cell has to be served by part of the cell surface. As a cell grows bigger, its internal volume enlarges and the cell membrane expands. Unfortunately, the volume increases more rapidly than does the surface area, and so the relative amount of surface area available to pass materials to a unit volume of the cell steadily decreases.
Finally, at some point, there is just enough surface available to service all the interior; if it is to survive, the cell must stop growing.
Answered by
Ms. Sue
I think John's answer came from this website.
http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/ahp/LAD/C5/C5_ProbSize.html
http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/ahp/LAD/C5/C5_ProbSize.html
There are no AI answers yet. The ability to request AI answers is coming soon!
Submit Your Answer
We prioritize human answers over AI answers.
If you are human, and you can answer this question, please submit your answer.