Name the iron-rich protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen.

Name the iron-rich protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen.

• A. Myoglobin
• B. Ferritin
• C. Hemoglobin
• D. Collagen

Answer: (C)

Hemoglobin is the iron-rich protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen. It has four heme groups, each containing iron that reversibly binds O2. This allows oxygen to be picked up in the lungs, carried through the bloodstream, and released to tissues as needed. Myoglobin also binds oxygen but is found in muscle and mainly stores oxygen there rather than transporting it in blood. Ferritin stores iron inside cells and doesn’t carry oxygen, while collagen is a structural protein with no role in oxygen transport.

Hemoglobin is the iron-rich protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen. It has four heme groups, each containing iron that reversibly binds O2. This allows oxygen to be picked up in the lungs, carried through the bloodstream, and released to tissues as needed. Myoglobin also binds oxygen but is found in muscle and mainly stores oxygen there rather than transporting it in blood. Ferritin stores iron inside cells and doesn’t carry oxygen, while collagen is a structural protein with no role in oxygen transport.