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Multiple Choice

What cellular processes are affected by the lack of organelles in human RBCs?

Mature red blood cells are anucleate and lack most organelles, so they can’t carry out activities that require those components. Without a nucleus and ribosomes, transcription and translation can’t happen, meaning gene expression and new protein synthesis are blocked. Without a nucleus, the cell also can’t undergo division. Energy production, however, still occurs via glycolysis in the cytoplasm, since mitochondria are absent. So the aspects most affected by the lack of organelles are protein synthesis and division.

Mature red blood cells are anucleate and lack most organelles, so they can’t carry out activities that require those components. Without a nucleus and ribosomes, transcription and translation can’t happen, meaning gene expression and new protein synthesis are blocked. Without a nucleus, the cell also can’t undergo division. Energy production, however, still occurs via glycolysis in the cytoplasm, since mitochondria are absent. So the aspects most affected by the lack of organelles are protein synthesis and division.