Final answer:
Adult globin family cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen and consists of four globin molecules each bound to a heme group containing iron.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adult versions of globin family cells contain hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein that consists of four globin molecules bound to a heme group, which in turn contains iron (Fe2+). These molecules play a critical role in oxygen transport as each molecule of hemoglobin can carry up to four molecules of oxygen, making it crucial for the functioning of red blood cells. Adult hemoglobin (Hb A) specifically has two alpha and two beta chains, while fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) consists of two alpha and two gamma chains.
Minor adult hemoglobin (Hb A1) has two alpha and two delta chains. Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, can contain about 300 million hemoglobin molecules. As these cells mature in the bone marrow, they lose their nuclei and mitochondria and are released into circulation as biconcave disks packed with hemoglobin, ready to transport oxygen and some carbon dioxide across the body.