Do red blood cells undergo mitosis?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether red blood cells are capable of undergoing the process of mitosis, which is a type of cell division. This involves understanding the biological structure and function of red blood cells, particularly how they are formed and whether they replicate themselves through mitotic division.
Answer
Red blood cells do not undergo mitosis.
Red blood cells (RBCs) do not undergo mitosis because they lack a nucleus and other organelles necessary for cell division.
Answer for screen readers
Red blood cells (RBCs) do not undergo mitosis because they lack a nucleus and other organelles necessary for cell division.
More Information
Mature RBCs are anucleate (lack a nucleus), which provides more room for hemoglobin, enhancing their capacity to carry oxygen effectively.
Tips
Common mistakes include assuming all cells with a cell membrane can divide or not considering the specializations of mature red blood cells.
Sources
- Can red blood cells perform cell division? - Homework Study - homework.study.com
- How can red blood cells undergo mitosis and what are ... - Quora - quora.com
- Production of red blood cells (erythropoiesis) - Britannica - britannica.com
