Though science fiction has produced stories like "The Blob," we do not see very many large single-celled organisms. Which of the following tends to limit cell size?
A) The difficulty in maintaining a continuous large membrane
B) The difficulty of reproduction in a large cell
C) Surface area-to-volume ratios
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The surface area-to-volume ratio limits cell size because as a cell grows, its volume increases faster than its surface area, making it increasingly difficult to exchange materials with the external environment through the cell membrane. This ultimately restricts the size of a single cell. While maintaining a continuous large membrane and reproduction in a large cell can also pose challenges, these factors are not the primary limit on cell size.

Though Science Fiction Has Produced Stories Like "The Blob," We