Video Transcript
Select the correct answer to complete the table provided. (A) To transfer electrical information from one part of the body to another. (B) To carry oxygen around the body. (C) To store the genetic material of the organism. (D) To fight off infections from pathogens.
In the table, we are given a few pieces of information. Firstly, we are told that the cell under consideration is a red blood cell. Secondly, we are told that the structure of a red blood cell includes having a biconcave shape and no nucleus. We’re being asked to complete the table with the correct function of this cell. Let’s start by understanding the terms “structure” and “function.”
The structure of a biological component relates to its shape and organization. The function is what that biological component does, in other words, what its job is. When a component, like a cell, has a specific structure and function, we say that it is specialized. An example of a specialized cell is a sperm cell. The structure of a sperm cell is well adapted to aid the cell’s function. Since the primary function of a sperm cell is to travel through a female’s reproductive tract to find and fertilize an egg cell, it has a long tail to help it swim.
Another example of a specialized cell is a nerve cell. The function of nerve cells is to transmit electrical impulses. So these cells, like the one you can see here, often have many branching extensions that receive impulses from other nerve cells. This helps the nerve cell collect and communicate electrical information.
We know that the blood in our body is responsible for transporting substances between all our tissues and organs. So what exactly is the function of a red blood cell? Let’s look at the structure of the red blood cell and see if we can relate its structure to its function. A red blood cell has a biconcave shape. This means that it looks like a disk with an indent, or a dip, in the middle. Having a biconcave shape gives a cell a larger surface area. This, along with the fact that red blood cells have no nucleus, means the cell has a lot of capacity to carry important substances, like oxygen.
All of these structural adaptations allow red blood cells to take in more oxygen, which they can then carry to the cells and tissues of the body. So the option that correctly completes the table and describes the function of red blood cells is given by answer choice (B): to carry oxygen around the body.
