Final answer:
In the absence of carbonic anhydrase in red blood cells, bicarbonate production would decrease, significantly impairing CO2 transport as bicarbonate in the blood and thus affecting CO2 elimination from the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
If no carbonic anhydrase were present in red blood cells, there would be a decrease in the rate at which carbon dioxide (CO2) is converted into bicarbonate (HCO3-) and hydrogen ions (H+). Without this enzyme, CO2 would still diffuse into red blood cells but would not form carbonic acid (H2CO3) as efficiently. Consequently, the answer to the given question is C. Decreased bicarbonate production. This process is crucial because about 70 percent of CO2 is transported in blood as bicarbonate. The carbonic anhydrase reaction is reversible and crucial at the lungs where the bicarbonate is converted back into CO2 for elimination. Without carbonic anhydrase, the transport of CO2 as bicarbonate would decline significantly, negatively affecting CO2 elimination from the body.