Is iron necessary for oxygen transport in red blood cells?

Answer 1

True. Iron is necessary in the transportation of oxygen in red blood cells, it is the iron molecules that binds the oxygen molecules to the cell, if you have an iron deficiency (anaemia) it means that your blood isn't carrying enough oxygen around your body. This can cause fatigue as well as other health problems.

Note:

Humans have iron-based hemoglobin, which gives their blood a red color. Most molluscs and arthropods use hemocyanin, a substance that uses copper in stead of iron, to bind and transport oxygen. So technically, iron is not needed: other substances could perform the same function. The blood would not be red though: in molluscs and arthropods, the blood has a green/blueish tint.

Answer 2

Iron is necessary for oxygen transport in red blood cells?

Oxygen is transported Via Haemogoblin protein , in red blood cells. The Haem group at the centre has one iron ion , and this binds to four other O2 molecules. In books they always say as it moves right , it attracts more oxygen molecules , but this is something you will need to investigate futher.

Haemogoblin transports oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, to release in areas of low oxygen saturation and high Carbon Dioxide .

This is bc Carbon Dio acts as an Allosetric inhibitor , and binds to the Hamoglobin - a protein , and affects the ability of the HB, Haemoglobin, to hold onto the oxygen- so it lets them go.