Question

As cell size increases, the surface area and volume ________.

1) increase at the same rate.
2) increase at different rates.
3) decrease.
4) cannot be determined.

Answer 1

As cell size increases, the surface area-to-volume ratio decreases. This can impact the cell's ability to support diffusion and may result in cell division or death.

Step-by-step explanation:

As a cell increases in size, its surface area-to-volume ratio decreases. This means that the surface area of the cell increases at a slower rate compared to its volume. For example, a small cell may have a surface area-to-volume ratio of 6 to 1, while a larger cell may have a ratio of 3 to 1. When a cell grows too large, its plasma membrane may not have enough surface area to support the necessary rate of diffusion for the increased volume. This can lead to the cell either dividing or dying to maintain a suitable surface area-to-volume ratio.