Conclusion Questions:
1. In terms of maximizing diffusion, what was the most effective size cube that you tested?
The 1 cm cube was the most effective at diffusion. It had a 89% diffusion and also had the biggest difference between surface area and volume. With a 6:1 ratio.

2. Why was that size most effective at maximizing diffusion? What are the important factors that affect how materials diffuse into cells?
The 1cm cube was the most effective due to its high surface area to volume ratio (6:1). It has the least amount of volume to be able to get to the middle and more surface area to diffuse through, compared to its size. Important factors that can affect how materials diffuse include volume, surface area, concentration, size and shape of the molecule, and temperature.

3 If a large surface area is helpful to cells, why do cells not grow to be very large?
When cells grow, their volume increases at a greater rate than surface area, meaning the ratio of surface area : volume will decrease, making diffusion less effective.

4. You have three cubes: A, B, and C. They have surface to volume ratios of 3:1, 5:2, and 4:1 respectively. Which of these cubes is going to be the most effective at maximizing diffusion, how do you know this?
The 4:1 cube is going to be the most effective at maximizing diffusion because it has the highest ratio, similarly to the 1cm cube in our lab. Comparing those numbers to the data we collected during the lab, I can identify which cube will have the highest diffusion rat due to its surface area : volume ratio.

5. How does your body adapt surface area-to-volume ratios to help exchange gases?
There are multiple things cells may do, such as dividing so that the cells are smaller. The body can also shape the cells into longer, thinner shapes instead of round and fat to reduce the volume and increase the surface area. The body has also evolved the lungs and circulatory system to speed up the movement of materials.

6. Why can’t certain cells, like bacteria, get to be the size of a small fish?
Bacteria is very small unicellular organism, so it has a high SA:V ratio. However, when the cell starts to grow, this ratio starts to lower. When the unicellular organism gets too big, it stops growing and divides in order to keep the high SA:V ratio and steady diffusion level.

7 What are the advantages of large organisms being multicellular?
The advantages of large organisms being multicellular includes the body having a greater diffusion rate, as many small cells have a higher ratio than one big cell does.  They aren’t limited to the size of one cell, therefore they can grow a lot larger.  Multicellular organisms can also perform more functions than a unicellular organism being it has more cells able to do jobs. As well, a multicellular organism would live longer as there is less stress on each cell. On top of that, cells of multicellular organisms have evolved to increase diffusion rates.