1.2.b.Why did the Eukaryotic cell Form ?

Smaller size is a basic requirement of both Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cell .

To understand this  let us  consider the area and volume of a typical cell.

Most cells have a spherical shape though not all.

The formula for calculating  the surface area of a sphere is 4πr², while the formula for its volume is 4πr³/3.

Thus, as the radius of a cell increases, its surface area increases as the square of its radius, but its volume increases as the cube of its radius .

Therefore one can understand that as a cell increases in size, its surface area-to-volume ratio decreases.

This same principle would apply if the cell had the shape of a cube .

If the cell grows too large, the plasma membrane will not have sufficient surface area to support the rate of diffusion required for the increased volume.

This would make the cell less efficient as it grows

The cell solves this problem by 2 ways

1. dividing
2. develops organelles that perform specific tasks.   These adaptations lead to the development of eukaryotic cells.

“Comparing Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells” by Openoregon .pressbooks is licensed under CC BY 4.0