Limitations of the size a cell can attain?

Question

Why are cells generally small?

Can you compare plant cells to animal cells?


thank you. happy holidays.

Answer 1

cells are small because they rely on the diffusion (more or less random driftin) of solutes for their needs. To get sugar for instance, a cell must wait until a molecule floats by in order to use it. Diffusion is extremely slow unless the distances are very small, hence the cell is limited by how far things can diffuse and still be useful. By keeping small, cells can rely on diffusion rather than having to have active carrying systems that would cost metabolic energy.

There are also surface area/ volume considerations. Cell membranes can only be so big before their integrity is compromised (think of a balloon. it can only go so far before it blows up).

Answer 2

The surface area to volume ratio has to remain relatively small. If the cell was too big it would take too long for necessary nutrients to diffuse into the cell such as water. If the surface area of the cell membrane is too small and the volume within is too large, then the cell will not be able to survive because it can't access the nutrients it need quickly enough.

You cannot compare plant cells to animal cells because plant cells have a large central vacuole. This vacuole takes up a lot of space without any major functions occurring inside of it. Therefore the volume of the cytosol, where all the organelles are, is fairly small even though the volume of the total cell may be fairly large. So the ratio to cytosol and surface area is still small. Animal cells don't have a vacuole so they cannot be compared in that regard.

Answer 3

The volume of the cell increases faster the surface area. Since all nutrients and waste products have to pass through the cell membrane, at a certain point, the cell membrane can no longer support the cell. At that point, growth stops.

Plant cells differ from animal cells mainly in having a cell wall, chloroplast, and a large vacuole.

Answer 4

Cells are big theoretically. Its when they split into two and so on that they become small.

Plant Cells Have: A Nucleus, A Cell wall, Chlorplasts, chlorophyll and larger vacuoles.

Animal Cells Have: A nucleus, A Cell Membrane, Smaller Vacuoles

Answer 5

floor area to quantity ratio. the better a cellular is, the decrease it is floor area to quantity ratio is. meaning it would desire to have a greater stable time soaking up sufficient foodstuff for the completed cellular.