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Diffusion and Cell Size and Shape

This analysis and discussion activity helps students understand that cell size is limited by the very slow rate of diffusion over any substantial distance and the insufficient surface-area-to-volume ratio for larger cells.  In addition, students calculate why these problems do not apply to long slender cells or parts of cells (e.g. the axons of neurons that extend from your spinal cord to your foot).

The first attached file has the Student Handout and the second attached file has the Teacher Notes.

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celldiffusionSHO.docx28.43 KB
celldiffusionTN.docx61.25 KB
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ralph's picture

cell shapes and thier functions

Submitted by ralph (guest) on Tue, 03/14/2017 - 10:47am.

can anyone give me examples of cell functions acorrding to thier shapes..i need them ..thank you..

iwaldron's picture

Cell shape and function

Submitted by iwaldron on Wed, 03/15/2017 - 9:07am.

Some examples of the relationship between cell shape and function are discussed in the activity "Structure and Function of Cells, Organs and Organ Systems", available at /exchange/bioactivities/SFCellOrgan. Other examples include neurons and different types of epithelial cells in animals and guard cells around stomata in plant leaves.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To preserve the value of these learning activities for other teachers, please do not post keys for any questions from any of these activities!

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Authors

Dr. Ingrid Waldron is Professor Emerita in the Biology Department at the University of Pennsylvania. Co-authors include Dr. Jennifer Doherty, who is an Assistant Professor in the Physiology Department at Michigan State University, and Dr. Lori Spindler, who is a Lecturer in the Biology Department at the University of Pennsylvania. They have developed these activities in collaboration with colleagues at Penn and middle school and high school teachers in the Philadelphia area. We are grateful to Craig Douglas for his generous help with graphics.

 

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