Question

Why were the cells made bigger for Snow White?

Answer 1

Cells remain small due to the limitations imposed by surface area-to-volume ratios, which affect nutrient, waste, and gas exchange. Large cells would struggle to maintain these functions efficiently, which is why organisms consist of numerous small cells rather than fewer large ones.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question 'Why don't cells get bigger instead of remaining tiny and multiplying?' relates to the fundamental limitations of cell size. One primary reason for this limitation is the surface area-to-volume ratio. As a cell grows, its volume increases faster than its surface area, leading to an insufficient area for adequate exchange of nutrients, wastes, and gases to support the cell's increased metabolic needs. Moreover, cells are flat and thin to maximize nutrient absorption; cell membrane folds, known as microvilli, increase the surface area to further aid this process.

If cells were made too large, the efficiency of transporting substances across the membrane would be negatively impacted, hampering the cell's functionality and survival. Therefore, to maintain efficient functioning, most organisms have microscopic cells that keep multiplying rather than expanding in size. This concept is crucial to understand why cells remain at an optimal size that allows for adequate exchange and communication with their environment.

Answer 2

Cells remain tiny and multiply rather than grow larger due to the surface area-to-volume ratio, which allows for efficient nutrient and waste exchange. As a cell grows, it becomes less efficient for these exchanges, which is why cells have structures like microvilli to increase surface area without greatly increasing volume.

Step-by-step explanation:

Most organisms are composed of very small, microscopic cells. It is a common question to ask why cells do not just become larger rather than remain tiny and multiply. The reason cells are small and do not grow larger is due to the surface area-to-volume ratio. This ratio is crucial as a large surface area relative to volume allows for more efficient absorption and diffusion of nutrients and waste products.

As a cell grows, its volume increases at a faster rate than its surface area, making it more difficult to move materials in and out of the cell. Therefore, to maintain an adequate exchange of materials, cells stay small. Certain membrane folds, such as microvilli, increase the surface area without significantly increasing the volume, which helps with the absorption.