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GCSE Biology · key term
A protein in red blood cells that binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it to body tissues.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.2.2.3 · Paper 1
An iron-containing protein in red blood cells that binds reversibly to oxygen.
Revise: Blood CompositionRed blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to body tissues. They contain haemoglobin, an iron-containing protein that binds reversibly to oxygen. Haemoglobin loads oxygen where its concentration is high, such as in the lungs, and releases it in body tissues.
Specification 8.6 · Paper 2
For an adaptation question, link each feature to its benefit and then to the cell's function, for example: no nucleus → more space for haemoglobin → more oxygen can be transported.
For an explanation question, link each feature to its consequence and then to transport: for example, “no nucleus → more room for haemoglobin → more oxygen can be carried”.
Do not say that red blood cells carry oxygen because they are red. Creditworthy explanations refer to haemoglobin and the cells’ adaptations.
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Red blood cells, also called erythrocytes, collect oxygen in the lungs and deliver it to body tissues. They contain haemoglobin, a protein that binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it where it is needed.
Specification B2.2e · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher)
An iron-containing protein in red blood cells that binds oxygen where its concentration is high and releases it to body tissues.
Revise: Red blood cells and plasmaRed blood cells collect oxygen in the lungs and transport it to tissues such as muscles. They contain the protein haemoglobin, which includes iron. Haemoglobin binds oxygen in the lungs, where oxygen is readily available.
Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
A protein in red blood cells that binds oxygen reversibly, allowing oxygen to be picked up in the lungs and released in tissues.
Revise: Blood ComponentsAs blood passes through the lungs, oxygen diffuses into red blood cells and binds to a protein called haemoglobin. The binding is reversible: haemoglobin can release the oxygen as blood passes through body tissues, where cells are using it.