Do red blood cells have DNA?

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Prepare for the PLTW Biomedical Science Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Do red blood cells have DNA?

Explanation:
In humans, mature red blood cells do not contain DNA because they are enucleated and lack mitochondria. During the final stages of erythropoiesis, the nucleus is expelled to maximize space for hemoglobin, which improves the cell’s ability to carry oxygen. Without a nucleus, there is no genomic DNA, and since mature red blood cells also lose their mitochondria, there is no mitochondrial DNA either. Energy for these cells comes from glycolysis in the cytoplasm, not from oxidative phosphorylation, which would require mitochondria. Note that in many non-mammalian vertebrates, mature red blood cells still have a nucleus and DNA, but in humans the common context is that they do not.

In humans, mature red blood cells do not contain DNA because they are enucleated and lack mitochondria. During the final stages of erythropoiesis, the nucleus is expelled to maximize space for hemoglobin, which improves the cell’s ability to carry oxygen. Without a nucleus, there is no genomic DNA, and since mature red blood cells also lose their mitochondria, there is no mitochondrial DNA either. Energy for these cells comes from glycolysis in the cytoplasm, not from oxidative phosphorylation, which would require mitochondria. Note that in many non-mammalian vertebrates, mature red blood cells still have a nucleus and DNA, but in humans the common context is that they do not.

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