Cell Size Surface Area- Volume Essay Example
Cell Size Surface Area- Volume Essay Example

Cell Size Surface Area- Volume Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
View Entire Sample
Text preview

Introduction

The fundamental components of all living beings are cells. Cells offer structural support, absorb nutrients, and convert energy. They also possess specific functions and genetic material for replication. Furthermore, cells function as metabolic compartments where a variety of chemical reactions occur. There are two categories of cells: eukaryotic and prokaryotic.

Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells can exist as single-celled organisms or within multicellular organisms. However, prokaryotic cells are usually unicellular. The presence of unicellular and multicellular organisms is related to cell size and the ratio of surface area to volume. To study the relationship between cell size and diffusion, particularly in regards to water entering the cells, an experiment was conducted. This movement of water is known as osmosis.

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules across a

...

semi-permeable membrane, from an area with high water concentration to an area with low water concentration. This process is shown in 'figure 1'. A semi-permeable membrane only allows certain molecules to pass through. In plants, osmosis occurs when roots absorb water. This happens because root cells have more solutes than the surrounding soil, causing water to move from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration. When a cell takes in a large amount of water, it expands and exerts pressure against the cell wall known as turgor pressure. On the other hand, when water leaves a cell, the membrane shrinks away from the cell wall resulting in plasmolysis.

The plant wilts because the cells cannot support the leaves. Figure 1 illustrates osmosis, a process. Proteins in our cells have multiple functions, including serving as enzymes. Enzymes are biological catalysts that modify chemical reactions without changing themselves an

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

play an important role in facilitating these reactions.

Enzymes play a crucial role in our well-being by enhancing chemical reactions. They achieve this by reducing the activation energy, thus facilitating the conversion of reactants into products. This acceleration in reaction rate is essential for the functioning of our bodies, as chemical reactions are vital for our survival. Furthermore, enzymes exhibit an interesting characteristic depicted in 'figure 2': they remain unchanged after carrying out their function. As a result, enzymes can be utilized repeatedly without undergoing any alteration.

Enzymes, like all proteins, have the ability to be used multiple times on small molecules, resulting in the formation of a long chain made up of repeating subunits. They display a high level of specificity and are present in bodily tissues and fluids. Enzyme function is determined by their shape, and organisms can produce multiple enzymes with distinct purposes. The substances that interact with enzymes are known as substrates. Various factors including substrate concentration (salinity), pH, temperature, activators, and inhibitors can affect both the shape of a molecule and its interaction with enzymes.

The denaturing process, also referred to as denaturation, can reduce the effectiveness or completely eliminate the functionality of enzymes. The aim of the experiment is to investigate how the surface area to volume ratio affects the rate and percentage of diffusion in cells with different sizes. As per the hypothesis, when agar cubes come into contact with Hydrochloric Acid, they will become transparent, indicating their cell size and surface area to volume ratio. The hypothesis proposes that as cell size gets larger, both surface area and volume increase simultaneously.

Apparatus

  • 3 cubes of Agar

with NaOH &phenolphthalein indicator (1cm3, 2cm3, 3cm3)

  • 200-250mL 2M HCl solution
  • 250mL beaker
  • forceps
  • glass petri dish
  • scalpel
  • paper towel
  • ruler
  • stopwatch
  • calculator

    Experimental Design and Procedure

    In the experiment, the surface area to volume ratio was determined using three different-sized cubes (1cm, 2cm, and 3cm) as representations of cells. Hydrochloric acid served as the raw material for the experiment. When placed in the hydrochloric acid, the cubes diffused and caused the indicator to become clear. Due to their differing sizes, the rate of diffusion varied among them. The acid diffused into all of the cubes at an equal rate; however, within a given time period, a greater proportion reached the center of the smaller cube compared to that of larger cubes. Eventually, within the same time frame, while reaching its center in a 1cm cube, the acid did not reach the centers of the 2cm and 3cm cubes.

    When a cell's surface area-to-volume ratio is small, diffusion cannot supply enough raw materials to the entire cell due to its large volume. This prevents further growth of the cell.

    To conduct an experiment, take three agar cubes and place them in a beaker using forceps or fingers. Ensure that the cubes do not touch each other or the sides of the beaker. Gradually pour 100-150mL (or enough to fully submerge the cubes) of HCl into the beaker. Wait for around 5 minutes (or until the smallest cube completely loses its color), timing with a stopwatch.

    Meanwhile, create a results table that includes calculations for surface area, volume, surface area-to-volume ratio, as well as space for diffusion volume calculations.

    Once

  • 5 minutes have passed (or when the smallest cube becomes saturated), carefully remove all cubes from the beaker using forceps and transfer them to a glass petri dish.

    Rinse cubes underwater (gently).  Return HCl to waste container (see your teacher) Using the scalpel and forceps to hold agar gel, carefully cut each cube in? making sure to clean the blade in fresh water and dry with a paper towel in between cutting cubes.  Using a ruler, measure the distance HCl travelled (diffused) through each of the agar cubes. This will be the amount of ‘clear’ perimeter around the pink/brown centre.  Record all results ; observations on your table, return the equipment, and clean your prac station. Volume = clear volume, Volume Diffused = Clear total volume – Pink volume, Volume Undiffused = Volume of Pink cube.

    Discussion

    When placing the cubes into hydrochloric Acid, they were rinsed gently underwater before returning HCl to a waste container as instructed by a teacher. The scalpel and forceps were used to hold agar gel for carefully cutting each cube while ensuring that the blade was cleaned with fresh water and dried with a paper towel between cuts. By using a ruler, one could measure how far HCl diffused through each agar cube resulting in a 'clear' perimeter surrounding its pink/brown center. All outcomes and observations should be recorded on a table while also returning equipment and cleaning up practical stations afterwards.

    The acid diffused into all the cubes at the same rate, but it had a greater impact on the smallest cube due to its larger proportion. As cells grow, their volume increases faster

    than their surface area, leading to a decrease in the surface area to volume ratio. This supports my hypothesis.

    Conclusion

    As cell size increases, the surface area to volume ratio decreases. If the cell's volume continues to grow, diffusion will no longer effectively transport materials into the cell.

    The size of a cell determines the effectiveness of its metabolism rate, as it affects the diffusion of required nutrients.

    Bibliography

    1. John Kyrk, 2013, Cell Biology Animation, Batavia, http://www. johnkyrk. com/ Flinn, 2013, Cell Size and Diffusion, http://www. flinnsci. com/teacher-resources/teacher-resource-videos/see-it-in-action-videos/biology/cell-size-and-diffusion,-fb1638/
    2. Regina Bailey, Diffusion and Passive Transport, http://biology. about. com/od/cellularprocesses/ss/diffusion_3. htm
    3. CliffsNotes, Enzymes, http://www.

    cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Enzymes.topicArticleId-8741,articleId-8592.html Huxley L, Walter M,1998, Biology, Oxford, New York

    Get an explanation on any task
    Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
    New