Best Answer: Discrete, in this sense, means the opposite of continuous. An example of a continious variable would be the speed of a car. It can be anywhere ...
Most cells are small for two main reasons: a). The cellâs nucleus can only control a certain volume of active cytoplasm. b). Cells are limited in size by their surface area to volume ratio. A group of small cells has a. relatively larger surface area than a single large cell of the same volume. This is important. because the nutrients, oxygen, and other materials a cell requires must enter through it surface. As a. cell grows larger at some point its surface area becomes too small to allow these materials to enter. the cell quickly enough to meet the cell's need.
Cell Size is governed by several factors: The size of the cell is controlled by metabolic requirements. DNA must be available to produce the enzymes and proteins needed for proper functioning. A too small cell will not have enough DNA to support life and a cell too large will need an enormous amount of DNA to carry on its functions. A second restriction involves surface area to volume ratio. As the cell increases in size, the volume increases geometrically while the surface area increases arithmetically.