08.B BIO Cell Growth & Division (PART B)

Why do cells divide?

DNA Overload
Exchanging Materials
Surface to Volume Ratio

DNA Overload

The larger a cell becomes, the more demands the cell places on its DNA. Very large cells like muscle cells have many nuclei to control what goes on in the cell

Exchange of Materials

Cells must be the appropriate size to exchange nutrients and wastes via diffusion

Surface to Volume Ratio

Cells must have a large surface to volume ratio so that materials can be exchanged via diffusion. The large surface area provides the area for the materials to diffuse across the membrane while the low volume ensure that the materials can travel all the way in and out the cell

Cell division

The process in reproduction and growth by which a cell divides to form daughter cells

Multinucleate

A cell with many nuclei; typical of large cells like muscle cells

Prokaryotic Cell Division (Example)

Binary fission

Eukaryotic Cell Division (Examples)

Mitosis & Meiosis

Prokaryotic Cell Division (Description)

Single circular piece of DNA replicates and is separated into the two daughter cells during binary fission

Eukaryotic Cell Division (Description)

DNA replicates and then condenses into chromosomes so the DNA is easier to separate during mitosis and meiosis

Large cells

Cells that have a small surface area to volume ratio

Small cells

Cells that have a large surface area to volume ratio