Cell Size and Function
11th Grade · Science · 50 min
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Learning Objective
I can explain how cell size and surface area to volume ratio affect cell function.
- 1
The width of pseud amonous bacteria is around one micrometer, while human egg cells have a diameter on the order of 100 micrometers.
- 2
The smallest bacterial cells discovered have a size of about a few hundred nanometers, and the limiting factor for cell size is the ratio of volume to surface area.
- 3
As a cell grows, the volume increases faster than the surface area, making it difficult for the cell to take in nutrients and get rid of waste.
