Question

Is RBC a living cell?

Answer 1

RBC and its structure:

1. Erythrocytes (red blood cells or RBCs) are anucleate, biconcave cells, filled with haemoglobin that transports oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and tissues.
2. Mature RBCs don't have a nucleus and mitochondria.
3. The only two major structures left are the cytoplasm which is enclosed by a surrounding cell membrane.
4. The cytoplasm of RBCs is filled with haemoglobin, a protein that reversibly binds and transports oxygen and carbon dioxide.
5. The cell membrane of erythrocytes is a lipid bilayer that contains two types of membrane proteins: integral and peripheral.
6. It is responsible for imparting strength and elasticity to RBCs enabling its even passage into the thinnest and smallest capillaries without any breakage/leakage.
7. It binds haemoglobin serving as anchor points for the cytoskeletal network of RBCs.
8. Moreover, they express antigens of ABO blood groups.
9. However, when RBCs are young they have both nucleus and mitochondria.

Functions:

1. They perform metabolic reactions.
2. RBCs perform glycolysis to meet the energy demand.
3. The lack of mitochondria ensures that these cells do not use the oxygen they are meant to transport.
4. They maintain a constant internal environment of the cell i.e. homeostasis

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