Conclusion Questions:
In terms of maximizing diffusion, what was the most effective size cube that you tested?
- smallest
Why was that size most effective at maximizing diffusion? What are the important factors that affect how materials diffuse into cells or tissues?
- Smaller surface area and total volume
If a large surface area is helpful to cells, why do cells not grow to be very large?
- A larger surface area may be helpful to a ce ll, however, diffusion and other processes take much longer to occur with an increase in cell size. Overall a larger cell increases the time some of these processes take which have an effect on the functions. Smaller cells are more effective with diffusion.
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 cube with the ratio 5:2 will be the most effective at maximizing diffusion. (Reduced 5:2 = 2.5:1 which is the smallest). Smaller volume is more effective at diffusion.
How does your body adapt surface area-to-volume ratios to help exchange gases?
- The cell membrane has a high enough surface area to serve the internal contents of the cell, including the exchange of gases. As the cell grows it’s surface area to volume ratio decreases, reducing the rate of gas exchange
Why can’t certain cells, like bacteria, get to be the size of a small fish?
- They need to keep a good volume to surface area ratio. They do this by dividing and this keeps them small. Bacteria also depend on organelles rather than specialized cells.
What are the advantages of large organisms being multicellular?
- Large organisms are multicellular because it allows them to have specialized cells for all of the required bodily functions. They can have longer life spans as they can continue living when individual cells die. Also allows for differentiation of cell types within one organism
