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Most bacterial species have an optimal surface area-to-volume ratio (SA/V) that balances growth, available nutrients, and cellular components. The image shows two bacterial species, one with a spherical shape (A) and another with a rod/cylindrical shape (B).

Species A is a spherical shape with nodules. Species B is shaped like a cylinder.
Based on surface area to volume ratios, which of the following statements will be true regarding nutrient diffusion within the bacterial species?
a. It will be the same in species A and species B since both have similar SA/V ratios.
b. It will be slower in species A than in species B since species A has a higher SA/V ratio.
c. It will be faster in species A than in species B since species A has a lower SA/V ratio.
d. It will be faster in species A than in species B since species A has a higher SA/V ratio.

User Mpavlov
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Final answer:

Species A, which is spherical in shape, will have faster nutrient diffusion than Species B, the cylindrical-shaped species, because the spherical shape has a higher surface area-to-volume ratio, facilitating more efficient exchange of materials.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the surface area-to-volume ratio (SA/V), if species A is a spherical shape with nodules and species B is shaped like a cylinder, the statement that is true regarding nutrient diffusion is that it will be faster in Species A than in Species B since Species A has a higher SA/V ratio (Option D). The surface area-to-volume ratio is crucial for efficient diffusion; the higher the SA/V ratio, the more efficient the nutrient and waste exchange. A spherical cell has a larger SA/V ratio compared to a cylindrical cell of the same volume because as the size of the cell increases, the volume increases more rapidly compared to the surface area, hence a sphere maintains a better ratio for diffusion. This implies that Species A, with its spherical geometry, would likely have a higher surface area relative to its volume compared to the cylindrical Species B, facilitating a faster exchange of nutrients and wastes.

User JeroenE
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