Final answer:
Mature red blood cells do not have mitochondria, which are the cell organelles where energy is produced in the form of ATP. This adaptation allows them to transport oxygen without using any of it.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mature red blood cells are among the very few cells of the body that do not have the mitochondria where energy is produced. The correct answer to the student's query is C) Mitochondria.
Mitochondria are often referred to as the "powerhouses" or "energy factories" of a cell because they are responsible for making adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell's main energy-carrying molecule. However, mature red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, lack mitochondria. As erythrocytes mature in the red bone marrow, they extrude their nucleus and most of their organelles, including mitochondria. This is why they use a process known as anaerobic respiration to generate energy, which does not require mitochondria and allows red blood cells to transport oxygen without using any of it.