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Multiple Choice
What component of the red blood cell carries oxygen and carbon dioxide?
A
Hemoglobin
B
Albumin
C
Myoglobin
D
Fibrinogen
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the primary function of red blood cells, which is to transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.
Identify the key protein in red blood cells responsible for this transport function. This protein must have the ability to bind to both oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Consider the structure of hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells. Hemoglobin contains iron ions that can bind to oxygen molecules, facilitating oxygen transport.
Recognize that hemoglobin also plays a role in carbon dioxide transport. It can bind to carbon dioxide, although most carbon dioxide is transported in the blood as bicarbonate ions.
Differentiate hemoglobin from other proteins listed, such as albumin, myoglobin, and fibrinogen, by noting that these proteins do not primarily function in oxygen and carbon dioxide transport within red blood cells.