Question

Which of the following is an effect of a decrease in the surface-area-to-volume ratio of a cell?

a) cells mutate, resulting in a cancerous cell
b) waste removal becomes slower
c) the cell cycle speeds up

Answer 1

An effect of a decrease in the surface-area-to-volume ratio of a cell is Choice B. Waste removal becomes slower. Decrease in the surface area to volume ratio means that the cell is growing in size. This growth makes diffusion less efficient resulting to the center of the cell not receiving its required substances. The cell processes slows down and the cell must break down into smaller cells that has larger SA:V ratio to make diffusion more efficient.