BIO 1140 Chapter 2: Chapter 2 - The Cell.docx
Document Summary
2. 1 basic features of cell structure and function: plasma membrane (with lipids and proteins, hereditary information dna or rna, metabolic activities, homeostasis - self-regulate and respond to environmental changes, reproduction self-replicating. Largest single cell: an egg, especially an ostrich egg (~13cm) The human eye cannot see anything smaller than 0. 1 mm (27). Microscopy technique to produce images of objects otherwise too small for the human eye. Cells are small to optimize surface to volume ratio (sa:v) to enhance: exchange surfaces (nutrients entering in, wastes exiting etc) An increase in the surface available for exchange raises the amount of exchange taking place simultaneously: diffusion is more effective over a shorter distance. For example, (from class) oxygen diffuses at a rate of 78 days/m: concentrations of substrate for metabolic processes. A certain concentration of substrate is required for a process to take place.
