• Question: Which specialised cell does not have a nucleus?

    Asked by smokeybacon2000 to Alexis, Dr D, Helen, Jasmine, Mario on 17 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Alexis Barr

      Alexis Barr answered on 17 Jun 2013:

      Erythrocytes – which is the proper name for red blood cells. They lose their nucleus to give them flexibility to squeeze through blood capillaries and to maximise their ability to carry Oxygen around the body.

    • Photo: Jasmine Penny

      Jasmine Penny answered on 17 Jun 2013:

      Red blood cells don’t have a nucleus! This is so that they can carry as much of a molecule called haemoglobin (pronounced ‘heem – o – glow – bin’) as possible. Oxygen sticks to haemoglobin so these cells can transport a lot of oxygen around the body.

    • Photo: Andrew Devitt

      Andrew Devitt answered on 17 Jun 2013:

      You could also consider platelets in this group too. They are strange little blood cells that let you form blood clots.

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