Reference no: EM13585286

1. Consider two imaginary cells. Both are cube shaped (the same dimension in all directions). The first cell has a side length of 10 micrometers. The second has a side length of 100 micrometers. Calculate the surface areas and volumes of both of these cells, then calculate the SA/V for each of them. You don't need to show me the work - just show me the results of your calculations - the SA, V and SA/V (divided out) of each of these "cells."
   Which of these cells would be most efficient at feeding itself? Why?
   In what way could the less-efficient cell be altered to increase its feeding efficiency without decreasing its volume? Be specific about how the cell must change, though you don't have to do any calculations here. Note that there are at least three correct ways to answer this part of this question.
2. List and explain three major structural differences between prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells. For each, be sure you explain the situation for both cell types. For example, "Eukaryotic cells are big," would not be a good answer. Your answer would have to be something like, "Eukaryotic cells are much bigger than prokaryotic cells." Note that, as I used it for my example, this particular difference is off limits for your answer ;^) Another one you can't use is "more complex vs. less complex." You must be more specific than this.
3. Biologists are almost all agreed that the mitochondria and chloroplasts of eukaryotic cells arose through the process of endosymbiosis. What is endosymbiosis? What evidence is there that this process explains the origins of mitochondria and chloroplasts? Be specific, and list as much evidence as you can find.
4. Eukaryotic cells are much bigger than prokaryotic cells. A typical eukaryotic cell has many times more volume of cytoplasm than a prokaryotic cell. How is this size difference reflected in the complexity of the cell, and why? Your explanation needs to be pretty specific, and needs to include at least two examples of structures in the eukaryotic cell which illustrate this size-complexity relationship.
5. Explain the functions of each of the following organelles, using one or two sentences for each:

a. Nucleolus
b. Ribosome
c. Mitochondrion
d. Centriole