To solve the problem below, you must write a clear and convincing justification

Question

To solve the problem below, you must write a clear and convincing justification for accepting one of the possible answer choices as the best or most appropriate and for rejecting each of the other choices as less appropriate. Your reasons for rejecting choices are just as important as your reasons for choosing the best answer. In spite of factors that tend to restrict cell size, some protista cells are very large. For example, some marine algae have cells that are spherical and almost as large as a chicken egg. These cells remain at this sire throughout their lifetime. If cell division occurs then the resulting cells increase in size to match their original mother cell. Which of the following possible characteristics of these protistans would favor the maintenance of individual cells as large as these protists? A thin layer of cytoplasm inside the cell membrane, with the rest of the interior (>90%) filled with a very large water filled central vacuole. C A single slightly enlarged (~5% larger man typical protist cell) nucleus located in the very center of the cell. Growing as a unicellular organism, attached to the ocean floor in dose association (in a mass) with other bottom-dwelling organisms.

Explanation / Answer

Answer is A. Let me explain.

For protists, whch the main mode of nutrient translocation is by diffusion. For a cell as big as a chicken's egg, it would take days for a molecule to diffuse from the cell wall/membrane to the destination. Some protists adapt the shape of the cell so as to increase the surface-to-volume ratio. But if the cell is spherical, it definitely needs to minimize the mass and/or the volume of the cytoplasm to meet the cell maintainance. In this regard, the option A fits this.A cell with a thick cell wall and centrally located nucleus is not going to solve the problem, neither can a slightly bigger nucleus.Growing in colonies still can not cope up with the difficulty.

Hope this helps!

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