1.1 Introduction to cells PART 2

Question 1

Volume

Answer 1

volume of cell determines the metabolic activity and how quickly the reactions will take place

Question 2

Surface area

Answer 2

s.a. is the rate of exchange of materials and heat with the environment

Question 3

surface area/volume ratio

Answer 3

determines the cell/organism size

Question 4

proportionality?

Answer 4

the smaller the size, the larger the ratio

allows materials to diffuse throughout entire volume of cell efficiently

Question 5

what happens if the volume is much larger than the surface area

Answer 5

then the exchange of materials & waste can’t happen, so the cell dies

Question 6

this explains why:

Answer 6

• cells are microscopic and never of large size

- it’s a factor to the evolution of multicellularity

Question 7

when do cells divide usually

Answer 7

when they reach max ratio

Question 8

how big should the s.a. be

Answer 8

big enough to absorb nutrients + oxygen, to excrete waste and expel heat

Question 9

emergent properties

Answer 9

when individual components in an environment come together to create collective & interactive properties and functions

• the whole is greater than the sum of its parts!

Question 10

hierarchy of cells

Answer 10

cells - tissue - organ - organ system

Question 11

cell differentiation

Answer 11

diff cells - diff functions = division of labour

cell diff is when a diff gene is expressed and they specialise in a certain function and role