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Concept:
Concept:
Small cells maximize nutrient intake, waste removal, and general efficiency. You can calculate this by putting surface area over volume. A larger SA/V means that the given volume, has more surface area available. (Sci-ology, Cell Surface Area:Volume Ratio l Cell Biology, 2018)
Equation: Surface Area/Volume
Equation: Surface Area/Volume
Small Cell
Small Cell
Small cells are tiny, but tightly packs calls that grow and spread quickly.
(Khan Academy, Surface area to volume ratio of cells l Cell structure and function l AP Biology l Khan Academy, 2024)
Large Cell
Large Cell
Large cells are bigger with more space and grow slowly when compared to a small cell.
(Khan Academy, Surface area to volume ratio of cells l Cell structure and function l AP Biology l Khan Academy, 2024)
Why is that important?
Why is that important?
The size of the cell is important because small cells can divide and spread quicker, making them more efficient for quick processes like growth and healing, However large cells are great for storing more resources or preforming specialized functions, it takes much longer to divide making it less efficient at moving materials in and out. (Sci-ology, Cell Surface Area:Volume Ratio l Cell Biology, 2018)
Surface Area-to-Volume Ratio:
Surface Area-to-Volume Ratio:
Surface area: This represents the cell membrane, it's responsible for exchanging materials.
Volume: This represents the contents inside to cell.
As a cell grows, it's volume increases faster than it's surface area( Think of it like a balloon filling up)
As the balloon fills up the volume increases while the surface area decreases, So as the larger cell grows it loses it's surface area, the larger cell struggles to take in nutrients and remove waste. (Khan Academy, Surface area to volume ratio of cells l Cell structure and function l AP Biology l Khan Academy, 2024)
Key Ideas: A cell's ability to exchange materials with its surroundings is limited as its size increases because the surface area-to-volume ratio decreases.
Bibliography:
Image Hyperlinks:
Khan Academy- Concept Picture
Biology4Kids- Small cell & Big cell
Britannica- Cell Blob
Nature- Surface Area to volume ratio
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