How does surface area to volume ratio influence cell size and metabolism?

Answer 1

As the cell grows and increases in size,an important difference develops between the surface area available for exchange and the volume fo the cytoplasm in which the chemical reactions of life occur.The volume increases faser than the surface area;the surface area:volume ratio falls.So,with increasing size of a cell,less of the cytoplasm has access to the cell surface for exchange of gases,supply of nutrients,and loss of waste products.Put another way,we can say that the smaller the cell is,the more quickly and easily can materials be exchanged between its cytoplasm and environment.One consequence of this is that cells cannot continue growing larger,indefinitely.When a maximum size is reached,cell growth stops.The cell may be divide.

the extent of chemical reactions that make up metabolism in a cell is not directly related to the surface area of the cell,but it does relate to the amount of a cytoplasm,expressed as the small mass.In summary we can say that the rate of metabolism of a cell is a function of its mass,whereas the rate of exchange of materials and heat energy that metabolism generates is a function of the cell's surface area