How did increasing the cell diameter affect the surface area to volume ratio? B \( 1 \underline{\mathrm{U}} \quad \vdots \quad \mathrm{T} \quad \mathrm{T}_{2} \)

When the diameter of a cell increases, the volume of the cell grows at a faster rate than the surface area. This is due to the mathematical relationship of cubic volume and square surface area—specifically, the volume scales with the cube of the diameter, while the surface area scales with the square. As a result, larger cells have a lower surface area to volume ratio, which can hinder the efficient exchange of materials vital for cellular function. As cells grow larger, they face challenges in distributing nutrients and waste across their membranes. A lower surface area to volume ratio means less membrane per unit of volume, leading to a potential bottleneck in processes like diffusion. To cope, some cells may develop adaptations like elongating their shapes, forming internal compartments, or dividing altogether to maintain effective metabolic functioning!