Question

A _____ surface area to volume ratio _____________________________. large, prevents cells from developing a nucleus.

large, allows cells to transport materials in and out of the cell efficiently.

small, allows cells to transport materials in and out of the cell efficiently.

small, prevents cells from developing a nucleus.

Answer 1

A cell's surface area to volume ratio decreases as it grows larger, making diffusion less efficient.

Step-by-step explanation:

An important concept in understanding how efficient diffusion is as a means of transport is the surface area to volume ratio. Recall that any three-dimensional object has a surface area and volume; the ratio of these two quantities is the surface-to-volume ratio. Consider a cell shaped like a perfect sphere: it has a surface area of 4πr², and a volume of (4/3)πr³. The surface-to-volume ratio of a sphere is 3/r; as the cell gets bigger, its surface to volume ratio decreases, making diffusion less efficient. The larger the size of the sphere, or animal, the less surface area for diffusion it possesses.