Exploring Factors Influencing Cell Size

The video explores cell size, discussing how small and large cells can get, and the factors that limit their size. It highlights examples of bacterial and human cells, explaining the significance of the volume to surface area ratio in cell function. Mathematical analysis is used to illustrate how this ratio affects cell growth and nutrient exchange. The video also discusses adaptations in cells, such as nerve cells, to maximize surface area and maintain functionality.

What is the approximate width of a pseudomonas bacterial cell?

• 7 micrometers

• 100 micrometers

• 1 micrometer

• 5 micrometers

What is the diameter of human red blood cells?

• 100 micrometers

• 1 micrometer

• 5 micrometers

• 7 micrometers

What is the size of the smallest cells discovered?

• 100 micrometers

• 5 micrometers

• 1 micrometer

• About 300 nanometers

What tends to limit the size of a cell?

• The cell's weight

• Volume to surface area ratio

• The cell's shape

• The cell's color

Why is the volume to surface area ratio important for a cell?

• It shapes the cell

• It decides the cell's weight

• It affects nutrient intake and waste expulsion

• It determines the cell's color

What happens to the volume to surface area ratio as a cell grows?

• It decreases

• It stays the same

• It increases

• It becomes zero

What is the simplified ratio of volume to surface area for a sphere?

• r/2

• 3r

• 2r

• r/3

What would be the volume to surface area ratio for a cell with a radius of 3 micrometers?

• 1 micrometer

• 3 micrometers

• 9 micrometers

• 1,000 micrometers

How do nerve cells adapt to maximize their surface area?

• By reducing their surface area

• By being long and skinny

• By increasing their volume

• By becoming spherical

Why don't we see very large spherical cells?

• They can't take in nutrients fast enough

• They are too heavy

• They are not colorful

• They move too slowly