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Which of the following statements about hemoglobin is false?

a) It is a tetramer
b) It has 2 alpha chains
c) It has 2 beta chains
d) It has 2 gamma chains

User Eric Burel
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1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The false statement about hemoglobin is that (d) it has 2 gamma chains; normal adult hemoglobin contains 2 alpha and 2 beta chains.

Step-by-step explanation:

The false statement about hemoglobin is d) It has 2 gamma chains. Adult hemoglobin, also known as HbA, consists of 2 alpha chains and 2 beta chains. Fetal hemoglobin, or HbF, does have gamma chains, but it is not present in normal adult hemoglobin. Both the alpha and beta chains within the hemoglobin have a characteristic sequence of amino acids, with the alpha chains containing 141 amino acids and beta chains containing 146. Hemoglobin's quaternary structure binds oxygen efficiently, and its cooperative binding is due to the changes in shape upon oxygen binding and release.

User MTv
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