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Cells and Cell Theory
What advantages does small size give to a cell?
Many cellular processes occur by diffusion, which is efficient over short distances, but less efficient over long distances. Since all materials going in and out of a cell must pass through the plasma membrane, the greater the surface area of this membrane, the faster a given quantity of molecules can pass through. Smaller cells have a much greater surface-to-volume ratio than larger cells and therefore can "feed" all areas of the cell in less time.
What is "surface-to-volume ratio," and how does it affect cell size?
The surface-to-volume ratio is a mathematical relationship between the volume of an object and the amount of surface area it has. This ratio often plays an important role in biological structures. Think of a cell as a sphere:
The surface area of a sphere can be calculated by
4ð r2
where r is the radius of the sphere.
Volume of a sphere can be calculated by
4/3 ð r3.
An......

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