• Question: Why are the cells so tiny?

    Asked by viper2 to Alexis, Dr D, Helen, Jasmine, Mario on 19 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Alexis Barr

      Alexis Barr answered on 19 Jun 2013:

      One reason cells are so tiny because they have to constantly talk and interact with their environment. They need to be very sensitive to changes in chemicals in the environment so that they can respond properly to what the body wants them to do, for example reproduce and make more cells.
      By being small, cells have a large cell membrane compared to the volume inside the cell and so they don’t need to use much energy to carry out their jobs. Also, because cells are small, if they die in small numbers – they don’t cause damage to the organs they are in and can be easily replaced.

    • Photo: Mario Ruiz

      Mario Ruiz answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      That is something that also amazes me! But if they have space to do all the processes that they need to do, and to store all their components, why should they be bigger?

    • Photo: Andrew Devitt

      Andrew Devitt answered on 21 Jun 2013:

      @viper2
      Some cells are enormous! Nerve cells can be really long as they have to stretch a long way in your body.

      But some of the little ones need to be tiny. Red blood cells would get clogged in the veins if they were big. Platelets need to be tiny to get round your body to wherever you need a blood clot to form.

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