A cell's optimal size is dependent on its resource uptake and waste disposal. Limiting factors include how far nutrient molecules can passively diffuse inside the cell and how much surface to volume it has. This is as true for single celled yeast as it is for plankton or mammal cells in organs.
A sphere's surface to volume ratio
surface π • d² : volume 4/3 • π • r³
This means the inside gets bigger faster than the surface. There is more inside needing resources and producing wastes. There is less surface to exchange across. The next step is to become thin and either rod like or flattered but then tensile strength becomes an issue and cells break without reinforcement, support and protection.
Once a cell gets to big for passive diffusion inside
Eggs are especially supported to get bigger than other cells by energetically pumping in nutrients from other adjacent cells or by nutrient storage-yolks- inside shells to support and protect.
2007-11-14 18:12:46
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answer #1
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answered by gardengallivant 7
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Cells are small because the cytoplasm, which moves the molecules of food around the cell, moves at a slow rate, so if the cell was too large, it would not be able to function efficiently enough to survive.
2007-11-14 23:11:01
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answer #2
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answered by Bookstalker 2
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Because it's a more efficient way of conserving energy. It is much easier to take care of a small thing than a great big thing. Think f it as the difference between taking care of a small dog and taking care of a really big one. The larger one will always probably need more food, more resources, more space, and so on.
2007-11-14 16:44:09
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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they'd desire to be small to be sure that residing organisms to stay the size they are. in the event that they have been any larger then so could napkins, organs and organ structures and organisms meaning that our planet does no longer be great sufficient to hold us. additionally, evaluate the reality that a number of those cells are something yet small, they are as a mattaer of actuality very condensed and long yet could be great long if ever prolonged.
2016-12-16 09:11:00
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answer #4
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answered by ? 4
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cells are so small to reduce surface area/ volume ratio which helps diffusion to occur quickly between the cell and its environment
2007-11-14 17:27:12
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answer #5
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answered by Sylvia 2
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because they are the parts in ur body that makes u work as a human. it controls the internal of ur body. and also...without cells means without organisms on this earth
2007-11-14 16:47:32
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answer #6
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answered by rnrmsc 3
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its because it is the smallest functional units of the body.. they had to be small so that collectively they can be called tissues then to organs..then system then finally into a being..they are small because they were modeled by God to be like that..
2007-11-14 16:48:29
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answer #7
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answered by pinkcanister 1
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it is easier for them to function becuase they are small. if they were huge, it would take longer for the organelles to do the jobs that they need to do.
2007-11-14 16:43:39
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answer #8
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answered by Molly ? 2
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Too many criminals, they have to fit them all in.
2007-11-14 16:45:06
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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