Why Are Cells Small?
Hacker News (AI keywords)·7 hours ago·Tutorial
This essay explains why most cells remain small through two physical limits: surface-area-to-volume ratio and diffusion. As cells grow, volume rises faster than membrane area, making nutrient intake, waste removal, and energy support harder. Larger cells also slow molecular encounters, though examples like red blood cells, oocytes, organelles, and giant bacteria show how biology works around these constraints.