ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Biology => Topic started by: slothpomba on March 24, 2010, 01:40:18 pm

Title: Suggest one advantage of red blood cells lacking a nucleus..?
Post by: slothpomba on March 24, 2010, 01:40:18 pm

We were having a practice "exam" the other day in bio class.

This question popped up.

I choked and couldnt think of much, so i wrote it would prevent viral infection of the red blood cell. (that's not even AOS 1...)

What would of you guys done?

Ps: Do you think my reason is valid or its total junk.

Title: Re: Suggest one advantage of red blood cells lacking a nucleus..?
Post by: fady_22 on March 24, 2010, 02:46:49 pm

More space for carrying haemoglobin?

Title: Re: Suggest one advantage of red blood cells lacking a nucleus..?
Post by: AzureBlue on March 24, 2010, 03:00:42 pm

Since there is no nucleus, the cell can have a flatter shape - this creates a greater SA:V ratio so diffusion, transport of oxygen and substances is more efficient.

Title: Re: Suggest one advantage of red blood cells lacking a nucleus..?
Post by: lexitu on March 24, 2010, 04:10:57 pm

Yep, they can also be carried through capillaries more easily due to their flat shape.

Title: Re: Suggest one advantage of red blood cells lacking a nucleus..?
Post by: shinny on March 24, 2010, 05:21:32 pm

Quote from: aleitu1 on March 24, 2010, 04:10:57 pm

Yep, they can also be carried through capillaries more easily due to their flat shape.

Well I don't think it's even 'more easily'; a capillary has a smaller diameter than a RBC does. 5 and 7 micrometers respectively IIRC. I think the SA:V ratio is what you should be focusing on though given the theory covered in unit 3 Biology.

An indirect advantage is that it allows blood transfusions as well (limited by blood types still though).

Title: Re: Suggest one advantage of red blood cells lacking a nucleus..?
Post by: TrueLight on March 24, 2010, 06:45:55 pm

yeah greater capacity to carry oxygen is probably best

i think viruses can still infect red blood cells, although it would be of no use since they cannot replicate

but things like...plasmodium can infect red blood cells and survive there since they cannot be detected by any T cells since they have no MHC expression

Title: Re: Suggest one advantage of red blood cells lacking a nucleus..?
Post by: slothpomba on March 24, 2010, 06:48:29 pm

I dont remember talking about SAV this unit..

Title: Re: Suggest one advantage of red blood cells lacking a nucleus..?
Post by: AzureBlue on March 24, 2010, 07:54:51 pm

Quote from: kingpomba on March 24, 2010, 06:48:29 pm

I dont remember talking about SAV this unit..

We did talk about red blood cells and SAV - I'm in unit 1.

Title: Re: Suggest one advantage of red blood cells lacking a nucleus..?
Post by: slothpomba on March 24, 2010, 10:35:37 pm

Yeah, i remember doing it in Unit 1.

It's just that it was a unit 3 AOS 1 exam, i was kind of looking for something more relevant to AOS 1 U3. Oh well..maybe that was the answer

Title: Re: Suggest one advantage of red blood cells lacking a nucleus..?
Post by: shinny on March 24, 2010, 10:56:15 pm

I thought SA:V was in Unit 3? I recall frequently applying this principle. There was basically always a question on it somewhere in exams wasn't there?

Title: Re: Suggest one advantage of red blood cells lacking a nucleus..?
Post by: slothpomba on March 24, 2010, 10:57:50 pm

I know you're expected to know lead on knowledge from unit 1 but i dont really remember anything about SAV being directly in unit 3, i got a bad memory though.

I'll take a quick flip through the text book.