Final answer:
Red blood cells are the main transporters of oxygen throughout the body, thanks to the hemoglobin protein they contain. They are specifically adapted for this function, differing from other blood cells like white blood cells and platelets.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main transporters of oxygen through the body are red blood cells. These cells, also known as erythrocytes, are specialized in carrying oxygen due to the presence of hemoglobin, a protein that binds to oxygen and facilitates its transport. Unlike white blood cells, which are focused on the immune response, or platelets, which are involved in blood clotting, red blood cells possess the unique function of oxygen transportation.
Red blood cells are created in the bone marrow from hematopoietic stem cells and are characterized by their lack of a nucleus at maturity in mammals. Their primary component, hemoglobin, not only helps in carrying oxygen but also plays a role in transporting carbon dioxide, a waste product, out of the body. It is the abundance of these cells, combined with the iron-containing hemoglobin, that gives blood its distinct red color.