A spherical unicellular alga relies solely on passive diffusion across its cell surface membrane to supply its cytoplasm with dissolved carbon dioxide. During a growth phase, the cell remains spherical but its volume increases by 237.5% (representing a final volume 3.375 times its initial volume).
Which of the following correctly describes the change in the cell's surface-area-to-volume (SA:VSA:VSA:V) ratio and the biological consequence of this scaling?
The SA:VSA:VSA:V ratio decreases by a factor of 3.3753.3753.375 (to approximately 29.6%29.6\%29.6% of its original value), reducing the rate of carbon dioxide supply per unit volume of cytoplasm.
The SA:VSA:VSA:V ratio decreases by a factor of 1.51.51.5 (to approximately 66.7%66.7\%66.7% of its original value), reducing the rate of carbon dioxide supply per unit volume of cytoplasm.
The SA:VSA:VSA:V ratio decreases by a factor of 1.841.841.84 (to approximately 54.3%54.3\%54.3% of its original value), reducing the rate of carbon dioxide supply per unit volume of cytoplasm.
The SA:VSA:VSA:V ratio increases by a factor of 1.51.51.5 (to 150%150\%150% of its original value), increasing the rate of carbon dioxide supply per unit volume of cytoplasm.