Biochemistry Task 208

Kaley Graham Biochemistry Task 208.5.3-01-05 December 15, 2014

Protein Function: Myoglobin and Hemoglobin
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Picture: en.wikipedia.org

The definition of Hemoglobin is: a protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. (Wikipedia, 2014) Hemoglobin contains four separate units that come together to form one molecule as seen in the model below: two alpha chains and two beta chains. Each separate protein chain then has a central structure enclosed in the molecule called a Heme Group which contains an iron atom that is responsible for carrying either oxygen or carbon dioxide. See the following model to demonstrate …show more content…
Normal red blood cells are shaped like rounded, dimpled, smooth, circular disk like molecules. This shape enables red blood cells to float smoothly through the bloodstream, dropping off oxygen and picking up carbon dioxide. Think of normal red blood cells as an inner tube floating down a water-slide. Smooth, rounded and able to make the twist and turns throughout the body. Diseased red blood cells most notably those seen in Sickle Cell Disease have an abnormality in the genetic coding. This creates mutant DNA cells producing abnormal hemoglobin. These abnormalities are seen in the shape as well as the genetic structure of the red blood cells. Sickle Cell red blood cells will be shaped like crescent moons, they are stiff and tend to clump or cluster together. Due to their shape they also do not have the ability to carry as much oxygen. This creates many issues including increased risk for infection, decreased blood flow and possible organ disfunction or death. The differences don’t end there, the life-span of each cell is drastically different. Normal red blood cells live for about 120 days, where diseased cells live anywhere from 10-20 days. (Hutchison, McPherson) This decreases the time that those cells are available to deliver oxygen and since the lifespan is show short causes a low blood count as the body does not make red blood cells at the rate that the diseased cells are …show more content…
But, there is a genetic probability associated with this disease that is an incurable and lifelong disease. You have to have two genes (one from each parent) to have the disease. You can still inherit the gene and not have the disease. This would happen if you got one sickle cell gene from one parent but not from the other, making you a sickle cell carrier. There is a one in four chance that you can inherit the disease, a 50% chance you can be a carrier or have the trait and a one in four chance you will not be affected at all. The table I have created below shows how this is possible and the probability of inheriting the disease or the

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