1. Why are cells so small? Why are cells so small?

2. 1. Cells HAVE to be small to be efficient I.) What limits the size of a cell? Most living cells are between 2 to 200 um in diameterMost living cells are between 2 to 200 um in diameter –Ex- if the cell size doubles it would need 8x more nutrients to survive and it would create 8x the waste to excrete!! WHY? Let’s do the math…WHY? Let’s do the math…

3. Surface Area to Volume Ratio The volume increases faster than the surface area of the cell membrane!!The volume increases faster than the surface area of the cell membrane!!  Need a proper Surface Area: Volume ratio to support the needs of the cell

4. 2. Rate of Diffusion Remember the function of the cell membrane?Remember the function of the cell membrane? – allows nutrients (ex. Glucose, oxygen, etc.) in and wastes out (diffusion) Diffusion works better over short distances (agar lab)Diffusion works better over short distances (agar lab)

5. 3. Need enough DNA to support protein needs of cell DNA codes for making___________ –there needs to be enough DNA to support the protein needs of the cell ex. Think about how much protein is in the cell membrane ex. Think about how much protein is in the cell membrane -if the cell size increases, you will need more protein!

6. Solving the problem Bigger cells have a greater metabolism than smaller cells BUT bigger cells have a proportionally less surface for exchange How to increase surface area with increasing size? © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

7. Throw out extensions Microvilli of small intestine epithelium © copyright 2001 Gwen V. Childs, Ph.D., University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

8. Flatten into a thin film Chick blastodisc © Developmental Biology OnlineDevelopmental Biology Online © Developmental Biology OnlineDevelopmental Biology Online

9. Divide the cytoplasm into smaller volumes Early human embryos Zygote 8-cell Embryo © Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Center

10. Multicellular organisms show the same adaptations Flowering plants have an extensive, branched rooting system to absorb water and minerals © Illinois Enviromental Protection AgencyIllinois Enviromental Protection Agency © Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

11. Multicellular organisms show the same adaptations Mammals have a long small intestine with internal folding to absorb digested food lithograph plate 20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, originally published in 1918. This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired © Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS