Human Red Blood Cells

Red cells, or erythrocytes are relatively large microscopic cells without nuclei.  In this latter trait, they are similar to the primitive prokaryotic cells of bacteria.  Red cells normally make up 40-50% of the total blood volume.  They transport oxygen from the lungs to all of the living tissues of the body and carry away carbon dioxide.  The red cells are produced continuously in our bone marrow from stem cells at a rate of about 2-3 million cells per second.   Hemoglobin  is the gas transporting protein molecule that makes up 95% of a red cell.  Each red cell has about 270,000,000 iron-rich hemoglobin molecules.  People who are anemic generally have a deficiency in red cells, and subsequently feel fatigued due to a shortage of oxygen.  The red color of blood is primarily due to oxygenated red cells.  Human fetal hemoglobin molecules differ from those produced by adults in the number of amino acid chains.  Fetal hemoglobin has three chains, while adults produce only two.  As a consequence, fetal hemoglobin molecules attract and transport relatively more oxygen to the cells of the body.