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The surface area to volume ratio in living organisms is very important. Nutrients and oxygen need to diffuse through the cell membrane and into the cells. Most cells are no longer than 1mm in diameter because small cells enable nutrients and oxygen to diffuse into the cell quickly and allow waste to diffuse out of the cell quickly. If the cells were any bigger than this then it would take too long for the nutrients and oxygen to diffuse into the cell so the cell would probably not survive. Single celled organisms can survive as they have a large enough surface area to allow all the oxygen and nutrients they need to diffuse through. Larger multi celled organisms need specialist organs to respire such as lungs or gills. For a single-celled organism (or a cell in a multicellular organism's body, for that matter), the surface is a critical interface between the organism/cell and its environment. Exchange of materials often occurs through the process of diffusion. This type of exchange is a passive process, and as a result imposes constraints upon the size of a single-celled organism or cell. Materials must be able to reach all parts of a cell quickly, and when volume is too large relative to surface area, diffusion cannot occur at sufficiently high rates to ensure this.

Large multi-cellular organisms, such as humans, animals etc require exchange surfaces with high SA:V ratios. The lungs are adapted to give a large SA:V ratio for the transfer of gases into and out of the blood stream. The lungs have numerous internal branches (bronchioles) that form alveoli. Alveoli are the location of gaseous exchange.

Physics: Materials with high surface area to volume ratio (e.g., very small diameter, or very porous or otherwise not compact) react at much faster rates than monolithic materials, because more surface is available to react. Examples include grain dust; while grain isn't typically flammable, grain dust is explosive. Finely ground salt dissolves much more quickly than coarse salt.

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Which term is defined as a behavior or trait of an organism that allows it to survive in its particular environment?

Adaptation is the term defined as a behavior or trait of an organism that allows it to survive in its particular environment. Adaptations can include physical features, behaviors, or physiological processes that help an organism thrive in its surroundings.


What is an organism that has an adaptation that allows it to survive?

Adaptation or adaptive value is any genetically controlled structural, physiological, or behavioral characteristic. This helps an organism survive and reproduce under a given set of environmental conditions.


What term describes a behavior of an organism that allows it to survive in its particular environment?

adaptationadaption


What is auto- heterotrophic Organism?

An auto-heterotrophic organism is an organism that can switch between being autotrophic (producing its own food through photosynthesis) and heterotrophic (obtaining food from external sources) depending on environmental conditions. This flexibility allows the organism to survive in varied or challenging conditions.


Why is it advantageous for an organism to have many smaller cells instead of fewer larger ones?

Having many smaller cells allows for efficient nutrient uptake and waste removal due to a higher surface area-to-volume ratio. It also allows for quicker cell division and repair in case of damage. Additionally, smaller cells provide redundancy in case of injury or stress to ensure the organism's survival.

Related Questions

What does structural behavior mean?

A physical characteristic that allows an organism to survive and reproduce.


Which term is defined as a behavior or trait of an organism that allows it to survive in its particular environment?

Adaptation is the term defined as a behavior or trait of an organism that allows it to survive in its particular environment. Adaptations can include physical features, behaviors, or physiological processes that help an organism thrive in its surroundings.


How adaptations works?

Adaptations work by allowing an organism to adjust and change so that they can survive in a changing environment. This allows the organism to live longer.


What is an organism that has an adaptation that allows it to survive?

Adaptation or adaptive value is any genetically controlled structural, physiological, or behavioral characteristic. This helps an organism survive and reproduce under a given set of environmental conditions.


The diagram represents a unicellular organism This organism is able to survive without a specialized respiratory system because?

The unicellular organism is able to survive without a specialized respiratory system because it relies on simple diffusion of gases across its cell membrane for gas exchange. Its small size allows for rapid exchange of gases, ensuring the transport of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide. Additionally, the organism's low metabolic rate allows it to meet its respiratory needs without the need for specialized respiratory structures.


What term describes a behavior of an organism that allows it to survive in its particular environment?

adaptationadaption


What is auto- heterotrophic Organism?

An auto-heterotrophic organism is an organism that can switch between being autotrophic (producing its own food through photosynthesis) and heterotrophic (obtaining food from external sources) depending on environmental conditions. This flexibility allows the organism to survive in varied or challenging conditions.


What is a mutation that helps an organism to live and survive in its environment?

One example of a mutation that helps an organism live and survive in its environment is the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. This mutation allows bacteria to survive exposure to antibiotics and multiply, leading to the continued existence of the resistant bacterial strain.


How does an adaptation help an organism survive?

An adaptation helps an organism survive by increasing its chances of survival and reproduction in its environment. It allows the organism to better withstand challenges such as predators, competition for resources, and changing environmental conditions. Over time, adaptations can become characteristic of a species through natural selection.


What is the definition adaptation?

An inherited characteristic that allows an organism to survive in a particular environmentAn adaptation is a positive characteristic of an organismthat has been favoured by natural selection


What is an organism that can survive with or without oxygen?

An example of an organism that can survive with or without oxygen is a facultative anaerobe like the bacterium E. coli. Facultative anaerobes can switch between aerobic respiration in the presence of oxygen and fermentation in the absence of oxygen to generate energy. This flexibility allows them to adapt to varying environmental conditions.


Why is homeostosis important to organism?

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