Why are cells so small?

Goal: Explain why cells are microscopically small using the surface area to volume ratio.

Background: Each lab table has a tray with 3 different size agar cubes that will represent cells of different
sizes. Agar is simply a Jell-O like substance that dissolves in water when heated up and solidifies when it cools
back down (we will use a nutrient agar to culture bacteria in lab 6).

These particular agar cubes also had some phenolphthalein mixed in while they still liquid. Phenolphthalein is
an indicator chemical that detects the presence of acids and bases (chemical is a clear color in acidic / neutral
pH and pink in basic pH).

The different agar cubes have already been pre-soaked in a dilute base solution (0.1 M sodium hydroxide or
NaOH). Thus, the cubes should be fully pink inside (the base has already diffused into all parts of the cube).
Your group will eventually place these pink cubes into an acidic solution (0.1 M hydrochloric acid or HCl). As
the acid diffuses in, it will neutralize the base and turn that part of the cube clear again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=163&v=7zds4RfBx9M&feature=emb_title
Look at the video and answer the question:

Discussion:
1) Which of the cubes showed the most diffusion throughout its “cell”? Explain your results.

The smallest cube because the surface area and volume ratio allows for the pink substance to leave the cube at
its optimal rate. Small cubes have a greater surface area to volume ration compared to the medium and large
sized cube.

2) What cell structure does the surface area of the agar cube represent in this modeling activity (hint: it is letting
the HCl “nutrients” in, every cell has this structure)? What does the volume inside the cube broadly represent?
Explain two advantages to having membrane bound organelle structure.

It represents the membrane, and the volume inside the cube represents the toxic nutrients being secreted out of
the cell. It provides protections for the cell and transports nutrients in and out of the cell.

3) Explain why cells are microscopically small in general.

Cells can only grow to a certain size due to their surface area to volume ratio

4) There are two ways to maximize the SA / V ratio – either _increase_ surface area, and / or _decrease_
volume. What would be the ideal shape for a large cell and as efficient as possible?

A shape with a lot of folds to increase surface area or a cylinder