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A-Level Biology OCR A

Supply Increase Organisms Cells Large Diffusion Explain Meeting

Increasing organism size necessitates adaptations for supply and demand due to more cells, higher metabolic rates, increased diffusion distances, and a reduced surface area to volume ratio.

As organisms grow larger, their increased cell count, higher metabolic rate, greater diffusion distances, and smaller surface area to volume ratio necessitate adaptations to meet resource demands.

Front Explain why supply meeting demand requires adaptations as organisms increase in size.
Back As organisms increase in size:
  • They are made up of more cells that all require constant and large supply of O and removal of CO2
  • Their metabolic rate is usually higher meaning more respiration needs to occur 
  • Diffusion distances will increase - not possible to supply cells deeper inside the organism through just the surface
  • Smaller SA:V ratio - slow diffusion and gases cant be exchanged fast enough or in large amounts

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