What do red blood cells contain eg nucleus and cell membrane ?
1 Answer
Not much!
Explanation:
Better said, RBCs have no organelles at all! They do not have a nucleus and so they don't have any DNA or RNA. Meaning they can not synthesize anything or divide. They contain do hemoglobin which helps them with their function of carrying oxygen through the blood. They also have an ion exchanger in their cell membrane (Cl- for Bicarbonate HCO3-) which helps turn insoluble CO2 (doesn't dissolve into the blood) into soluble bicarbonate so that it cant be carried to the lungs, turned back into CO2 and expelled from your body (you breathe out!).
Their lack of organelles helps to make RBCs much smaller than most other cells which allows them to fit into capillaries and disseminate through your body better. The downside, because they have no DNA they can't repair themselves from natural wear and tear so they only have a life span of about 120 days.
