Why are red blood cells red in color?

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Multiple Choice

Why are red blood cells red in color?

Red color in red blood cells comes from hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein packed in the cytoplasm. Each hemoglobin molecule contains iron within heme groups, and this iron gives the pigment its color. When hemoglobin binds oxygen, it appears bright red; when it releases oxygen, it becomes a darker red. Ferritin stores iron but isn’t a pigment, catalase is an enzyme that breaks down hydrogen peroxide, and myoglobin stores oxygen in muscle tissue, not in red blood cells. So the color comes from hemoglobin’s iron-containing heme groups.

Red color in red blood cells comes from hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein packed in the cytoplasm. Each hemoglobin molecule contains iron within heme groups, and this iron gives the pigment its color. When hemoglobin binds oxygen, it appears bright red; when it releases oxygen, it becomes a darker red. Ferritin stores iron but isn’t a pigment, catalase is an enzyme that breaks down hydrogen peroxide, and myoglobin stores oxygen in muscle tissue, not in red blood cells. So the color comes from hemoglobin’s iron-containing heme groups.

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