Why Must Cells Be Small?

Introduction
Once upon a time, there were three cells made of agar: Papa Cell (big), Mama Cell (medium), and Baby Cell
(small). Goldilabs was a cute lab assistant whose job it was to feed the three cells. Since the cells have no
mouths, they have to feed their cytoplasm by diffusion. In order for the cell to stay alive, every part of it
must be fed within a limited amount of time.

Essential Question:
1. What is the effect of cell size on the rate of diffusion?
2. Which cell size is the most efficient and does size influence cell division?
3. What is the correlation between a cell’s shape and function?

Materials
100 ml of a “food” solution Paper towels
Agar cubes cut to specific dimensions Rulers
Plastic cups Calculators
Plastic knives Stopwatch
Plastic spoons

Pre-Lab
Is large better than small?
When ordering a scoop of ice cream, a larger scoop is usually preferred over a smaller scoop.
When receiving an hourly raise at work, a large raise is preferred over a small raise. However, when having
an injection at the doctor’s office, a small needle is preferred over a large. When paying a credit card debt,
a small debt is preferred over a large debt. Therefore, size is relevant to the situation.

Now think about living things.

1. Give an example of large being better than small in something living.
2. Give an example of small being better than large in something living.
3. Why are adults larger than infants? Is it because their cells are larger or is it because they have
more cells?
4. Think about cells, are they small or large? Explain.
5. What is more efficient, a large cell or small cell? Explain.
6. What are some of the processes cells go through which effect the efficiency of a cell?
7. Cell shapes vary due to specialization and function. Therefore, cell surface area and volume ratios
are used to compare cells. The surface area (size of cell membrane) and volume (amount of
cytoplasm) can be easily measured using the equations below. First, determine the surface area and
volume of a cell, then give the ratio. Imagine a cube with a length of 2 cm, height of 2cm and width
of 2 cm to solve the equations.

Surface Area = 6 X (Length X Width)

Volume = Length X Width X Height)
Surface Area to Volume Ratio

ASIM M26CellSz Why Must Cells Be Small 5E student handout, revised 10/2018
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Procedure
Each group will get one large block of agar to cut models of cuboidal cells. Use the plastic ruler to
measure and cut three agar cubes to the following dimensions:
Measure each cell accurately to ensure good lab results.
1 cm X 1 cm X 1 cm = Baby Cell
2 cm X 2 cm X 2 cm = Mama Cell
3 cm X 3 cm X 3 cm = Papa Cell

1. Calculate the total surface area of each cell: [6 X (Length X Width)]. Record the surface area in Data
Table A. The surface area of the cell is equivalent to the plasma membrane (cell membrane) of each
cell.

2. Calculate the volume for each cell: (Length X Width X Height). Record the volume in Data Table A. The
volume of the cell represents the cytoplasma of the cell and its organelles.

3. Calculate the surface area to volume ratio of each cell (Surface area/Volume). Write each answer as a
fraction and record it in Data Table A. Ratio should be written in the simplest form (for example, 4:1
rather than 16:4)

4. On the student data sheet, predict which cell size will be the most efficient to sustain life.

5. Fill cups ¾ of the way full with the food solution.

6. Submerge all three cells into the food solution. The “food” will diffuse into the cell and cause a color
change in the cytoplasm.

7. Leave the cells in the solution for 5 minutes.

8. Using your spoon remove the cell from the solution and place on a paper towel.

9. Using a plastic knife cut away the portion of the cube that changed color. DO NOT REMOVE THE
PORTION THAT DID NOT CHANGE COLOR! Rotate the cube several times to check that all portions that
changed color while in the solution have been removed.

10. Re-measure the cubes to calculate the new volume. Record in Table B. Part of the cytoplasm did not
receive any nutrients and is now dead material.

11. Calculate the percentage of “dead” cytoplasm in each cell using the following formula, then record in
Table B.

% Dead = New Volume/Original Volume X 100

12. Calculate the rate of diffusion for each of the cells and record in Table B.

Rate of diffusion = Distance the liquid moved into the cell (cm) / Time (minutes)

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ASIM M26CellSz Why Must Cells Be Small 5E student handout, revised 2/2018
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Why Must Cells Be Small Name __________________________________

Data Sheet Partner(s) _______________________________

Predict which cell size will be the most efficient to sustain life. Explain your prediction.

_________________________________________________________________________________

TABLE A
Surface Surface
Original Original Original Volume
Area (cm2) Area/Volume
Length Width Height (cm3)
Ratio
Baby
Cell
Mama
Cell
Papa
Cell

TABLE B
New Original Rate of
New New % Dead
New Width Volume volume Diffusion
Length Height Cytoplasm
(cm3) (cm3) (cm/min)
Baby
Cell
Mama
Cell
Papa
Cell

% Dead = New Volume/Original Volume X 100

Rate of diffusion = Distance the liquid moved into the cell (cm) / Time (minutes)

ANALYSIS
1. Which cell has the greatest SA/V (cell membrane/cytoplasmic volume) ratio?

2. Which cell has the greatest percentage of dead cytoplasm?

3. Which cell has the lowest percentage of dead cytoplasm?

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4. If you could design your own cells, which would you want them to be…Papa Cells, Mama Cells, or
Baby Cells?

5. Based on data collected, was the rate of diffusion constant for all three cells?

6. Why does the rate of diffusion need to be considered when determining cell size?

7. What is significant about the plasma membrane (equivalent to the surface area) in the survival of a
cell?

8. Explain in detail, why must cells be small?

9. Cell shapes vary greatly due to function and to maintain efficiency. Some cells are very long with a
thin diameter to allow a greater surface area. Other cells are spherical and very small to maximize
volume.
a. How does the long length of a nerve cell found in the hind limb of a giraffe support its
function?

b. How does the spherical shape of vacuoles and vesicles support its function?

c. Epithelium cells of the skin have a sheet-like shape. How does this sheet-like shape support
its function?

d. Lining the small intestines are microvilli which increases the surface area of the intestines.
i. How does the increased surface area support the function of the small intestines?

ii. People who suffer from Celiac Disorder have microvilli which have been destroyed.
What type of problems will people with Celiac Disorder encounter due to the lack of
microvilli lining their intestines?

10. Ostrich and chicken eggs are considered a single cell, yet they are large when compared to most
living cells. What is unique about an ostrich and chicken egg that allows them to remain viable at
such a large size?

11. Amoeba and paramecium are single celled eukaryotes which are several times larger than the
average human cell. Why is it beneficial for these single celled organisms to maintain a larger size
as opposed to the smaller size of cells of a multicellular organism?

12. Other than cell efficiency, why might it be necessary for the cell to divide?

13. In multicellular organisms, cells may be self-sustaining units of life, but they don't live in isolation.
Their survival depends on receiving and processing information from the outside environment.
What type of information from the outside environment would be beneficial for cells to receive?

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14. Design a cell with a larger surface area without increasing the volume. This design may be a
drawing with a detailed description or a 3D model. An explanation on how the design has increased
surface area of the cell must be included.

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