Question

A researcher is studying a strain of mice that only incorporate 50 percent of the necessary iron into their hemoglobin molecules. Which of the following statements is likely true regarding these mutant mice?

A. Because oxygen cannot dissolve in the blood directly, no oxygen will be transported in the bloodstream of these mice.

B. The hemoglobin in these mutant mice will be unable to bind oxygen molecules, because iron-containing heme groups are responsible for the binding of oxygen to hemoglobin.

C. The hemoglobin in these mutant mice will be able to bind half the number of oxygen molecules compared to the hemoglobin of normal or wild-type mice.

D. The hemoglobin in these mutant mice will be able to bind more oxygen molecules compared to the hemoglobin of normal or wild-type mice.

E. There will be no difference between the amount of oxygen transported in the bloodstreams of these mutant mice compared to the amount transported in normal or wild-type mice.

Answer 1

Option (c).

Step-by-step explanation:

The hemoglobin is the important protein present in the red blood cells. The hemoglobin molecules helps in the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body.

The iron is important for the hemoglobin molecule formation. The deficiency in the iron can cause the abnormal hemoglobin structure. The mice hemoglobin can binds with the only 50% of the oxygen molecules as compared with the wild type mice.

Thus, the correct answer is option (c).