What characterizes fetal hemoglobin (HbF)?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking which characteristic is true about fetal hemoglobin (HbF), comparing its properties to adult hemoglobin and its behavior during gestation.
Answer
HbF consists of α and γ chains, has high oxygen affinity, and dominates in fetuses.
Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is characterized by its composition of alpha (α) and gamma (γ) globin chains, its high affinity for oxygen, and its predominance in fetuses until shortly after birth.
Answer for screen readers
Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is characterized by its composition of alpha (α) and gamma (γ) globin chains, its high affinity for oxygen, and its predominance in fetuses until shortly after birth.
More Information
Fetal hemoglobin's high affinity for oxygen ensures efficient oxygen transfer from the mother's blood to the fetus, which is crucial for fetal development.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing the globin chains in fetal hemoglobin with those in adult hemoglobin. Fetal hemoglobin consists of alpha and gamma chains, whereas adult hemoglobin consists of alpha and beta chains.
Sources
- Fetal hemoglobin - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- What is the difference between fetal and adult hemoglobin - Vaia - vaia.com
- Physiology, Fetal Hemoglobin - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information
