Cell solutions to surface area to volume ration

• Avoidance (stay small)


  allow most efficient import/export possible

  small size maximizes the surface area to volume ratio
• Elongonate


  increases the surface area

  e.g. red blood cell
• Fold surface membrane

  Increases surface area

  extends surface area of a cell into folds

  e.g. amoeba
• Hollow out centre of cell

  decreases the effective volume

  metabolic demands are therefore not as great

  e.g. mature plant cells
• Improve transportation of nutrients within the cells


  moves nutrients rapidly away from the membrane

  concentration gradient can be maintained

  e.g. cyclosis in plant cells
• Division of labour within cells


  cell can develop more efficient enzyme systems

  avoid possible conflicts between chemical processes

  e.g. partitioning areas of cytoplasm to specialize in one function in eukaryotic cells