Cells are small because they are more efficient as smaller entities. Information within small cells is transmitted more quickly and efficiently than within larger cells. Thus a higher cell surface area-to-volume ratio, i.e., smaller cell size, is desired for most efficient cellular activity.

Mitosis creates two identical daughter cells that each contain the same number of chromosomes as their parent cell. For example, prior to undergoing meiosis, a cell goes through an interphase period in which it grows, replicates its chromosomes, and checks all of its systems to ensure that it is ready to divide.

Why is it important that a cell’s DNA is duplicated before cell division? DNA needs to be duplicated before the cell divides so that both new cells have the SAME AMOUNT of DNA.

During interphase, the cell grows, accumulating nutrients needed for mitosis, and replicates its DNA and some of its organelles. During the mitotic phase, the replicated chromosomes, organelles, and cytoplasm separate into two new daughter cells.

Why is it necessary for the cell to grow and duplicate its DNA before the start of meiosis? Because when a parent cell undergoes mitosis it divides into two daughter cells and they all need DNA thats why before mitosis takes place there must be a duplicate of the DNA.

If the cell grows too large, the plasma membrane will not have sufficient surface area to support the rate of diffusion required for the increased volume. In other words, as a cell grows, it becomes less efficient.

Cells remain small because all materials that are exchanged between the cell and its environment, like oxygen and glucose, must pass through the cell membrane. If materials cannot be exchanged efficiently, then the cell could die.

Answer: The important point is that the surface area to the volume ratio gets smaller as the cell gets larger. Thus, if the cell grows beyond a certain limit, not enough material will be able to cross the membrane fast enough to accommodate the increased cellular volume. That is why cells are so small.

Small cells, therefore, have a large surface area to volume ratio. The large surface area to volume ratio of small cells makes the transport of substances into and out of cells extremely efficient. Smaller cells, because of their more manageable size, are much more efficiently controlled than larger cells.

Groups of smaller cells can have the same volume as one large cell, but be much more efficient. This is because of a higher SA/V ratio. Small cells have space between to better get nutrients.

Small cell’s have larger ratio of surface area to volume and therefore the rate of diffusion and transport of nutrients across cell surface is faster. When cell’s gets bigger, their ratio of surface area to volume decreases and transport of nutrients become slower. Therefore, small cell’s have better efficient.

What is one reason multicellular organisms, such as people, are made up of many small cells instead of one large cell? Smaller cells have more surface area for oxygen and nutrients to diffuse into the cytoplasm.

Organelles are cellular ‘factories’ that perform important functions such as building different molecules of life, removing wastes and breaking down sugars. Having organelles makes eukaryotic cells much more efficient at completing important cellular functions.

Cells divide for many reasons. For example, when you skin your knee, cells divide to replace old, dead, or damaged cells. Cells also divide so living things can grow. Organisms grow because cells are dividing to produce more and more cells.

Terms in this set (4)

• Food, Waste, and Gas Exchange. They need to maintain a workable ratio of surface area to volume to allow an efficient transfer of materials in and out of the cell.
• Growth. In order for an organism to grow, they must divide so they can get larger.
• Repair.
• Reproduction.