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Why Cells Are Small

Cells are the basic structural and functional units of life. As life on earth has evolved into organisms of varying complexities, two basic laws of nature have dictated why cells have remained so small. Shorter is faster. This is true both in terms of diffusion and in terms of chemical and electrical movement. By minimizing the distance between a cells nucleus and the numerous proteins and organelles that it must constantly regulate, a cell is maximizing the speed in which intercellular communications can take place while providing the ideal conditions for diffusion: a vital function in the life of a cell. Like wise, the surface area and volume of a cell are directly influential in the efficiency of the cells nutrient absorption and waste expulsion processes. Since the cell membrane of a eukaryotic cell is its only source of nutrition, its surface area must be large enough to allow the cells organelles to receive the materials it needs. This is done by......

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Approximate Word Count: 288
Approximate Pages: 2 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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