Is mitochondria present in RBC?

Mammal red blood cells (erythrocytes) contain neither nucleus nor mitochondria. Traditional theory suggests that the presence of a nucleus would prevent big nucleated erythrocytes to squeeze through these small capillaries.

Why do RBCs lack mitochondria?

The major function of RBCs is to carry oxygen for which the major protein hemoglobin has the important role. To accommodate such large quantity of Hb the RBCs are enucleated and also mitochondria are absent.

What would have happened if 1 RBCs had mitochondria?

If mitochondrion present in RBC it would lack most of its primary functional and structural elements. As a result the redundant mitochondria would be spotted and successfully destroyed via mitophagy and most of oxygen carried would be utilised for the cellular respiration that occurs in mitochondria.

How do RBCs divide without nucleus?

As red blood cells contain no nucleus, protein biosynthesis is currently assumed to be absent in these cells. Because of the lack of nuclei and organelles, mature red blood cells do not contain DNA and cannot synthesize any RNA, and consequently cannot divide and have limited repair capabilities.

Why do liver cells have lots of mitochondria?

Tissues and organs that need a lot of energy have large numbers of mitochondria in their cells. For example, liver cells and muscle cells contain a lot of mitochondria. So the cell needs lots of ATP. And mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) function to respire carbohydrates to produce ATP.

How do RBCs produce ATP?

RBCs produce ATP from anaerobic conversion of glucose via pyruvate to lactate. Alternatively, erythrocytes can produce 2,3-biphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG, or 2,3-DPG) to reduce the affinity of haemoglobin to oxygen. Most of the ATP is used to maintain the ion balance, cell volume, and RBC deformability.

What would happen if there was no difference between mitochondria and plastids?

Mitochondria are found in both plants and animals whereas plastids are found only in plants. If, there would have been no difference between mitochondria and plastids, there would have been no structure which would provide energy and thus all the processes which take place in the cell would cease.