Biology A-Level
Surface area to volume ratio and diffusion limits
What Surface area to volume ratio and diffusion limits means in Biology A-Level, as defined for OCR.
Definition of Surface area to volume ratio and diffusion limits
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Reference: OCR
Multicellular organisms have a small surface area to volume ratio and large distances between cells, so diffusion alone is too slow to coordinate the whole organism.
Topics that use Surface area to volume ratio and diffusion limits
- Communication and homeostasis (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- cell specialisation
- Local versus long-distance signalling
- Negative feedback pathway
- Nervous and endocrine coordination
- Optimal conditions for cell function
- Target cell response
- Thermoregulation in ectotherms
- Thermoregulation in endotherms
Using Surface area to volume ratio and diffusion limits in the exam
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