What would happen to a single-celled organism the size and shape of a 40mm cube?

Question

Wouldn't it be that the cell would not survive since the nutrients would not reach the areas it needs to reach since the surface area is so large?

Answer 1

The cell would not survive as well as a compartmentalized one. Your right on the ball with the surface area concept, except you have to think about the inside of the cell as well.

Almost all interactions in the cell (including organelles in the eukaryotes) occur on the membrane (plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi) structure. So, an efficient cell would have lots of surface area in order to be productive.

However, greater volume will not be beneficial because there's more in the cell that needs supply but less to supply it. The Surface Area-to-Volume ratio should always favor the Surface Area more by splitting the cube into little cubes that add up to the same volume of the large, single 40mm cube.

If you want to go deeper than that, it's probably because the cell is wasting energy transporting through so much space instead of through other compartments mutually helping each other by lying on a gradient.

Hope this helps you!

Answer 2

Actually, the surface area is bigger, but the surface to volume ratio is much smaller than for a smaller cell of regular size, and it is that ratio that rules everything. That explains why cells have to be of a limited size, so that nutriment and gas can diffuse properly. Larger organism (multi-cellular) rely on a circulatory system to get nutriments everywhere.

Answer 3

Classic biology surface area to volume question. Your answer is pretty much right. There isn't enough surface arear to take up enough nutrients to keep the organism alive.

Answer 4

There are guys who really ask themselves those questions... ?

Answer 5

GOD can do anything.