How do blood cells reproduce when they are consistently in motion?

1 Answer
Jul 30, 2018

They don't. Not really.

Explanation:

  • Firstly, red blood cells don't divide because they've no nucleus ; thus no genetic information for protein synthesis or division. They are produced by stem cells in the red bone marrow. Those stem cells divide and differentiate (specialize) by losing the nucleus after synthesizing haemoglobin, carbonic anhydrase and other proteins and developing a biconcave disc shape.

  • As for white blood cells, they also are made in the stem cells of the red bone marrow which divide into:

1- Lymphoid Stem Cells: Those produce T and B cells. B-cells mature in the bone marrow, while T-cells mature in the thymus. After maturation they get released in the blood. Now during an infection, they divide after being activated by corresponding antigens. B-cells form plasma cells and memory cells by mitosis. T-cells also produce memory cells.

Besides, the cell's motion doesn't affect the cell cycle, so it'll not affect its mitosis or anything. It will divide normally.

2- Myeloid Stem Cells: Those produce neutrophils and monocytes (those develop into macrophages later).