The cells of an ant and an elephant are, on average, the same sma...

Question

The cells of an ant and an elephant are, on average, the same small size; an elephant just has more of them. What is the main advantage of small cell size? (Explain your reasoning.)
a. A small cell has a larger plasma membrane surface area than does a large cell.
b. Small cells can better take up sufficient nutrients and oxygen to service their cell volume.
c. It takes less energy to make an organism out of small cells.
d. Small cells require less oxygen than do large cells.

Accepted Answer

Hey everyone. Let's take a look at this question together to effectively absorb or release nutrients. Living organisms need cells with a blank surface area to volume ratio. So let's recall what we've learned about cell surface area to volume ratio and what type of surface area to volume ratio best benefits the cells in living organisms. So we can recall that the surface area to volume ratio is inversely related to the size of the cell, meaning that a larger cell has a smaller surface area to volume ratio. And that would mean that a smaller cell has a larger surface area to volume ratio. And now we know that cells in our body are microscopic, meaning that they're very, very small. So it makes sense that they would have a very high surface area to volume ratio. And that's because this high surface area to volume ratio is actually favored by the cells because it allows materials allows materials such as gasses or any other nutrient to go in or out of the cell. And this is important for the exchange of nutrients and the release of waste. And so we know that because sales are microscopic, they have high surface area to volume ratio because the high surface area to volume ratio is favored because it allows the materials to go in and out of the cell actively to effectively absorb or release nutrients. So that means that answer choice. A is the correct answer. And that living organisms need cells with a high surface area to volume ratio. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye

Watch next