2006-09-24 08:02:13 · 5 answers · asked by aganjegelaga 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
ostrich eggs are single cells
2006-09-24 08:03:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eggs are single cells and they do grow large as cricket balls.
2006-09-24 15:05:39 · answer #2 · answered by PragmaticAlien 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most cells are restricted in size in order to maintain a surface area to volume ratio that is manageable for the cell. Off the top of my head, I do not remember what the maximum ratio is, but for some reason 0.8 comes to mind. (Surface area divided by volume)
The reason for the limitation is that as the cell gets larger, the volume increases at a faster rate than the surface area (think size of the cell membrane). The cell is then forced to transport materials within and out of the cell at a greater rate than it is able to take nutrients into the cell. At a certain point, it takes more energy for the cell to transport products and nutrients across a large cell than it would take to just make an entirely new, small cell.
Theoretically, when the cell approaches maximum size, it would divide. Eggs are different from regular somatic cells in that they are mainly energy stores for a developing embryo.
2006-09-24 22:01:23 · answer #3 · answered by astrid2x 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Is anybody else curious about the fact that you know the size of a cricket's balls?
2006-09-24 15:10:49 · answer #4 · answered by Pundit Bandit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
obviously you never seen an ostertch egg then. an egg contains exactly one cell.
2006-09-24 15:05:51 · answer #5 · answered by dread pirate lavenderbeard 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋