2006-12-18 14:37:05 · 4 answers · asked by jaellis20 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Think of the surface area as a balloon. It'll only inflate so far before....BOOM.
There's your limit.
2006-12-18 14:39:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The surface area controls the growth of a cell because the cell relies on the transfer of material in and out to survive. The limit to this growth is determined by the ratio of the surface area of the cell to the volume inside the cell. The mathematics of the situation show that the surface area of a sphere is 4pi r^2 whereas the volume of a sphere is 4/3pi r^3 which indicates that the volume grows more rapidly then the surface area and it reaches a point when the surface area cannot transfer enough material in or out to allow the cell to grow any further.
2006-12-18 14:46:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
cells can only divide a certain amount of times in a certain space. if the cells continue to divide in a tissue that has reached its potential , lets say your little toe, your toe will continue to grow until it is at the predestined size and stop and cells will only divide once an equal number of cells die. to continue dividing a large cell in a small place would cause a tumor. see where i'm going with this...
2006-12-18 14:50:00 · answer #3 · answered by Chris C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Would you like to go to one of my best answers?
A similar question( What limits growth in a cell?: questioner: Eduardo L) was asked about three weeks ago. My answer to your question would be the same as I gave earlier on. I hope you find it satisfactory.
2006-12-18 15:29:56 · answer #4 · answered by Ishan26 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋