What is the significance of Haemoglobin?

Answer 1

Mammalian cells need a lot of energy, so they must have a continual supply of oxygen for respiration. Oxygen is not very soluble in plasma; 100ml off blood could only carry 0.2 ml of oxygen if it relied on oxygen being dissolved in the plasma. Haemoglobin (found in red blood cells) contains four active sites where oxygen molecules can be attached. Haemoglobin molecules increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood by 100 times, to about 20ml of oxygen in 100ml of blood.

Answer 2

Haemoglobin is the red protein in blood cells and which carries oxygen and other gases to different parts of the body.

A MOLECULE of haemoglobin has about 10,000 atoms, forming a distinctive spherical array of 6 different elements in precise proportions, which includes 4 atoms of iron, essential to the molecule's functions.

These elements are in the form of amino acids molecules, which have been made and combined by a cell's DNA to make a haemoglobin molecule, comprised of 574 different amino acids, all arranged in four chains.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT HAEMOGLOBIN DOES

It ...

• carries life-sustaining oxygen from the lungs via blood cells to other cells throughout the body.
• carries away waste carbon dioxide from the cells to the lungs where it is exhaled.
• carries nitric oxide to and from body tissues, thus regulating the body's balance of this chemical, which is vital to various body functions including learning, memory and blood pressure.

OTHER FORMS OF HAEMOGLOBIN

Within the blood cell there are different types of haemoglobin. For example, glycosylated haemoglobin carries glucose. It does not transport it to and from other parts of the body but carries the glucose needed by the blood cell itself.

HAEMOGLOBIN FOUND ELSEWHERE

In addition to being the key component of blood cells, haemoglobin is also found in other body cells, such as kidney cells. It's main function in such tissues is not to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide but to help combat the formation of cancers and other degenerative cell disorders. Haemoglobin in these sites also serves as an iron regulator for the body.

HAEMOLGLOBIN IN OTHER LIFE FORMS

Haemoglobin is also found in algae, bacteria, some worms and some sea creatures. A good example of haemoglobin in marine life is found in the tube worm.

The tube worm has red plumes. The red is caused by the high levels of haemoglobin in the worm's physiology. A tube worm's haemoglobin molecule, having up to 144 amino acid chains, is about 30 times bigger than a human's haemoglobin molecule. It also has a special function --to carry hydrogen sulphide (as well as oxygen) to provide 'energy' for the bacteria in the tube worm's system. The bacteria can then produce 'food' for the tube worm.

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it is found in red blood cells and mixes with oxygen to create oxyheamoglobin which is a high concentration of oxygen. this means the body can have more oxygen in the blood

Answer 3

haemoglobin is an iron rich substance it gets oxygen from the lungs and gives back the co2 its carrying and delivers it to the other parts of the body

Answer 4

It keeps the red blood cells healthy and you have energy because of haemoglobin.

Answer 5

it is found in red blood cells and mixes with oxygen to create oxyheamoglobin which is a high concentration of oxygen. this means the body can have more oxygen in the blood

Answer 6

it combines with oxygen and transports it to the cells of the body. it also gives blood its dark red color.