A microbiologist has discovered what she thinks are two new types of photosynthetic cells
The first cell (organism 1) appears nearly cubic and is approximately 1.5 ?m wide × 1.5 ?m long × 1.5 ?m deep. The second, larger cell (organism 2) is 5 ?m wide × 15 ?m long × 2 ?m deep.
a. What is the surface area/volume ratio of each organism?
b. Based on what you know about the surface area/volume ratios, which organism will find it more difficult to interact with the surrounding environment?
c. Suggest possible strategies that might allow the organism identified it part (b) to cope with its reduced capacity to interact with the environment.
d. Which of these organisms is more likely to be a prokaryote?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer:
a. Organism 1: surface area = 1.5 × 1.5 × 6 sides = 13.5 μm2; volume = 1.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 = 3.375 μm3; surface area/volume = 4
Organism 2: surface area = (5 × 15 × 4 sides) + (5 × 2 × 2 ends) = 320 μm2; volume = 5 × 15 × 2 = 150 μm3; surface area/volume = 2.13
b. Organism 2 will find it more difficult.
c. Strategies include compartmentalization, cytoplasmic streaming, and membrane folding.
d. Organism 1
You might also like to view...
What is true about the mutations within a complementation group?
A) They produce the same mutant phenotype. B) They complement each other and are in the same gene. C) They do not complement each other and are in the same gene. D) They complement each other and are in different genes. E) They do not complement each other and are in different genes.
Geobacter: Anode reduction
What will be an ideal response?
About how long does the average red blood cell live?
a. 4 days b. 4 weeks c. 4 months d. 1 year e. 4 years
DNA methylation may be a significant mode of genetic regulation in eukaryotes. Methylation refers to ________
A) changes in DNA-DNA hydrogen binding B) altering translational activity, especially of highly methylated tRNAs C) altering RNA polymerase activity by methylation D) alteration of DNA polymerase activity by addition of methyl groups to glycine residues E) addition of methyl groups to the cytosine of CG doublets