Question

Describe components of the mature red cell that are essential for survival and function.

Answer 1

Mature red cells do not contain any genetic material and nucleus. They also lack most of the intra-cellular organalles such as mitochondria, golgi body, ribosomes etc. Therefore, they do not divide or take part in protein synthesis. The primary function of mature red blood cells is to transport oxygen to different cells of the body and deliver carbon dioxide to the lungs. Since mature red cells do not contain mitochondria, hence they do not use any of the oxygen they transport. Mature red cells have a unique disc like structure with a biconcave shape, which makes both sides of the cell's surface to curve inward like the interior of a sphere. This unique shape aids in cell's ability to move through tiny blood vessels to deliver oxygen to organs and tissues. Due to their flexibility mature red cells have the ability to increase the surface area-to-volume ratio, which enables oxygen and carbon dioxide to diffuse across the cell's plasma membrane more readily. Mature red cells contain enormous amounts of a protein called hemoglobin, which is also responsible for the characteristic red color of these cells. Iron in hemoglobin binds oxygen as oxygen molecules enter blood vessels in the lungs, and helps the cells to transfer the oxygen molecule to different parts of the body.

So the unique shape (biconcave), absence of intracellular organalles and the presence of great amounts of hemoglobin are the main features of a mature red cell that are essential for survival and function.

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