![]() ![]() Lysosomes are involved with various cell processes. When this happens, the cell must divide into smaller cells with favorable surface area/volume ratios, or cease to function. A lysosome is a membrane-bound cell organelle that contains digestive enzymes. Thus, if the cell grows beyond a certain limit, not enough material will be able to cross the membrane fast enough to accommodate the increased cellular volume. The important point is that the surface area to the volume ratio gets smaller as the cell gets larger. Unfortunately, the volume increases more rapidly than does the surface area, and so the relative amount of surface area available to pass materials to a unit volume of the cell steadily decreases.įinally, at some point, there is just enough surface available to service all the interior if it is to survive, the cell must stop growing. As a cell grows bigger, its internal volume enlarges and the cell membrane expands. For most cells, this passage of all materials in and out of the cell must occur through the plasma membrane (see diagram above).Įach internal region of the cell has to be served by part of the cell surface. Gases and food molecules dissolved in water must be absorbed and waste products must be eliminated. They allow for smaller molecules to pass through such as messenger RNA molecules. To answer this question we have to understand that, in order to survive,Ĭells must constantly interact with their surrounding environment. However, there are some cells that develop with more than one nucleus. Cells are so small that you need a microscope to examine them. ![]()
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