Cell Size and Function
Learning Objective
I can explain how cell size and surface area to volume ratio affect cell function.
Key Concepts
The width of pseud amonous bacteria is around one micrometer, while human egg cells have a diameter on the order of 100 micrometers.
The smallest bacterial cells discovered have a size of about a few hundred nanometers, and the limiting factor for cell size is the ratio of volume to surface area.
As a cell grows, the volume increases faster than the surface area, making it difficult for the cell to take in nutrients and get rid of waste.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 11 practice questions to reinforce learning.
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1. What is the approximate width of the Pseudomonas bacteria shown in the video?
2. What is the limiting factor for how large a cell can get, as discussed in the video?
3. Explain why the surface area to volume ratio is important for cell function.
...and 8 more questions
Educational Video
Cell size | Structure of a cell | Biology | Khan Academy
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