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If a surface area:volume ratio gets too small, then it is difficult for the cell to absorb/expell substances, and substances must travel a long way to exit or leave the cell. This means that a cell will want a large surface area:volume ratio.

However, the surface area:volume ratio decreases as a cell expands. Because of this, a cell will reach a certain point where expanding any more will cause the cell to become inefficient due to its low surface:area to volume ratio.

Therefore, cells are limited by the efficiency of their ratio; they will not grow to a size where their ratio becomes too inefficient.

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15y ago

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As a cell grows, its volume increases faster than its surface area, leading to a decrease in the surface-to-volume ratio. This can limit the efficiency of nutrient exchange and waste removal across the cell membrane, potentially affecting the cell's ability to function optimally. In order to maintain a favorable surface-to-volume ratio, cells may undergo division or develop specialized structures.

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11mo ago
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Well the ratio itself doesn't keep it from going large.

After a while, the volume of a cell will become large enough that the surface area will not be able to support the transport of protein and the stuff it needs to survive, and the cell becomes inefficient.

Therefore the cell divides through mitosis in order to maintain a smaller surface area to volume ratio.

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15y ago
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Q: How does surface volume ratio relate to a limit on cell expansion?
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What happens to the cell's surface area as it grows?

As a cell grows, its volume increases more rapidly than its surface area. This results in a decreased surface area-to-volume ratio. A decreased surface area-to-volume ratio may limit the cell's ability to efficiently exchange nutrients and waste with its environment.


What ratio limits the size of a cell?

The maximum size of a cell is determined by the ratio of surface area to volume.If the volume is too large compared to the surface area, it would take much too long for substances to move to and from the centre of the cell to the outside, or other areas of the cell. This means that the middle of the cell would not be likely to get enough nutrients and the cell would die.While there are dozens of biochemical factors, the primary physical limitation placed upon the size of the Cell is due to Cellular Division: activated due [according] to the volume of the Cell.The surface area to volume ratio is the limit to cell size. As the cell becomes bigger the surface area can not take care of the volume.


Why is there a size limit to cells and organisms?

It has to do with the ratio between their surface area and volume. As a cell gets larger in size, its volume tends to expand greater than its surface area. As nutrients and wastes can only be exchanged at the surface of a cell, its size is dictated by the ratio between its internal requirements for nutrients and wastes and the surfaces ability to exchange them with its environment. Sooner or later a cell reaches its maximum size because its nutrient/waste exchange requirements are maxed out by its surface area to do so.


Stiffening and reduction in chest movement effectively limit the?

effective expansion of the lungs and decrease the amount of oxygen that can be inhaled.


What problems does a big cell have surface area to volume ratio?

A big cell with a low surface area to volume ratio may have trouble efficiently exchanging nutrients and wastes with its environment. This could lead to difficulties in regulating internal conditions and could hinder the cell's overall metabolic processes. Additionally, a low surface area to volume ratio may limit the cell's ability to transport molecules across its membrane effectively.