Final answer:
The incorrect statement about polychromatophilic red blood cells is that they are mature red blood cells. In reality, they are reticulocytes, which are immature and contain polyribosomes. Mature red blood cells lack a nucleus and mitochondria and have an average lifespan of 120 days.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question about polychromatophilic red blood cells is that statement C) 'They are mature red blood cells' is incorrect. These cells are also known as reticulocytes, and they are actually immature erythrocytes that may still contain fragments of organelles, particularly polyribosomes. Mature erythrocytes, or red blood cells, lack a nucleus and other organelles like mitochondria but contain hemoglobin, which distributes oxygen throughout the body. Reticulocytes stain blue with certain dyes because of the residual RNA and polyribosome content within them.
Furthermore, addressing statement A) 'They have no nucleus,' mature circulating erythrocytes, indeed, do not have a nucleus. Regarding statement B) 'They are packed with mitochondria,' this is false, as mature red blood cells lack mitochondria and instead rely on anaerobic respiration. Concerning statement C) 'They survive for an average of 4 days,' the average life span of mature red blood cells is closer to 120 days. Thus, the correct statement about mature, circulating erythrocytes is A) They have no nucleus.