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Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to all of the other cells in the body.
Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to all of the other cells in the body.
The hemoglobin complex is made up of 4 different proteins: 2 α units (red) and 2 β units (blue). The green rings are the "heme" group that bind Oxygen. Hemoglobin is responsible for the red color in red blood cells, which ultimately gives our blood it's unique shade. Hemoglobin ensures that "blood is thicker than water".
The hemoglobin complex is made up of 4 different proteins: 2 α units (red) and 2 β units (blue). The green rings are the "heme" group that bind Oxygen. Hemoglobin is responsible for the red color in red blood cells, which ultimately gives our blood it's unique shade. Hemoglobin ensures that "blood is thicker than water".
Anemia is defined as a low number of red blood cells. In a routine blood test, anemia is reported as a low hemoglobin or hematocrit. Hemoglobin is the main protein in your red blood cells. It carries oxygen, and delivers it throughout your body. If you have anemia, your hemoglobin level will be low too. If it is low enough, your tissues or organs may not get enough oxygen. Symptoms of anemia -- like fatigue or pain -- happen because your organs aren't getting what they need to work the way they should.
Anemia is the most common blood condition in the U.S. It affects almost 6% of the population. Women, young children, and people with long-term diseases are more likely to have anemia. (WebMD, 2020)
Watching a WebMD video means you probably already have the disease
Watching a WebMD video means you probably already have the disease
Hemoglobin has to carry the O₂, but it can't be a ball-hog. It needs to give it up, too.
Hemoglobin has to carry the O₂, but it can't be a ball-hog. It needs to give it up, too.
Hemoglobin has a strong affinity for oxygen, since it needs to bind to O₂ and be able to carry it around the entire body. But just as importantly, hemoglobin must also release O₂ when it gets to tissue that needs it. Hemoglobin will change shape and release O₂ when the local concentration of oxygen is low (the left part of the graph highlighted in blue) but bind oxygen where the local concentration is high (like in the lungs). This curve is showing "sigmoidal" behavior.
Hemoglobin has a strong affinity for oxygen, since it needs to bind to O₂ and be able to carry it around the entire body. But just as importantly, hemoglobin must also release O₂ when it gets to tissue that needs it. Hemoglobin will change shape and release O₂ when the local concentration of oxygen is low (the left part of the graph highlighted in blue) but bind oxygen where the local concentration is high (like in the lungs). This curve is showing "sigmoidal" behavior.
A similar protein, Myoglobin, only releases its oxygen to muscles when they are extremely low in oxygen, so its uses outside of muscle tissue are limited.
A similar protein, Myoglobin, only releases its oxygen to muscles when they are extremely low in oxygen, so its uses outside of muscle tissue are limited.
How does Hemoglobin bind to oxygen?
How does Hemoglobin bind to oxygen?
Each Hemoglobin complex has 4 heme rings, as shown to the right. At the center of the ring is one of oxygen's most devoted fans - iron!
Each Hemoglobin complex has 4 heme rings, as shown to the right. At the center of the ring is one of oxygen's most devoted fans - iron!
Iron has a strong affinity for oxygen. When iron is oxidized without an attached protein, it often becomes the dark red color of "rust", and it is this iron-oxygen bond in Hemoglobin that makes our blood red. The structure of Chlorophyll, the protein that helps plants trap the energy of sunlight into molecular bonds, is almost identical to Hemoglobin, except that Chlorophyll has replaced iron with a magnesium center.
Iron has a strong affinity for oxygen. When iron is oxidized without an attached protein, it often becomes the dark red color of "rust", and it is this iron-oxygen bond in Hemoglobin that makes our blood red. The structure of Chlorophyll, the protein that helps plants trap the energy of sunlight into molecular bonds, is almost identical to Hemoglobin, except that Chlorophyll has replaced iron with a magnesium center.
You'll need to know about this sort of stuff for the MCAT, if you want to be a non-web MD
You'll need to know about this sort of stuff for the MCAT, if you want to be a non-web MD
The protein structure helps stabilize the O₂ and makes Fe change it's charge
The protein structure helps stabilize the O₂ and makes Fe change it's charge
If Chlorophyll and Hemoglobin are so similar, could they be linked by some evolutionary event in life's distant past?
If Chlorophyll and Hemoglobin are so similar, could they be linked by some evolutionary event in life's distant past?
While it is possible these molecules may have both been synthesized by the same distant ancestor, there is currently no evidence for (or against) this hypothesis. Despite this missing link, however, scientists have discovered and plotted the evolutionary tree of the variations of Hemoglobin units. While Hemoglobin in humans consists of 4 specific units, pieces of the complex were produced in vertebrates nearly 800 million years ago. You might not share too many traits with your ancestors from that far back, but their blood still pumps through you!
While it is possible these molecules may have both been synthesized by the same distant ancestor, there is currently no evidence for (or against) this hypothesis. Despite this missing link, however, scientists have discovered and plotted the evolutionary tree of the variations of Hemoglobin units. While Hemoglobin in humans consists of 4 specific units, pieces of the complex were produced in vertebrates nearly 800 million years ago. You might not share too many traits with your ancestors from that far back, but their blood still pumps through you!
My Hemoglobin (25 pts)
My Hemoglobin (25 pts)
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Hemoglobin is fundamental to keeping our cells oxygenated. Without Hemoglobin connecting the source of oxygen (our lungs) to all other cells, cell death would ensue. If your brain tissue goes without oxygen for as little as 3 minutes, such as during a stroke, you can suffer from permanent and irreversible brain damage. Hemoglobin is an effective and efficient molecule, which hasn't changed much in the last 800 million years. Our blood doesn't just connect us to our family, it connects each and every cell together to make "you" a possibility.
Hemoglobin is fundamental to keeping our cells oxygenated. Without Hemoglobin connecting the source of oxygen (our lungs) to all other cells, cell death would ensue. If your brain tissue goes without oxygen for as little as 3 minutes, such as during a stroke, you can suffer from permanent and irreversible brain damage. Hemoglobin is an effective and efficient molecule, which hasn't changed much in the last 800 million years. Our blood doesn't just connect us to our family, it connects each and every cell together to make "you" a possibility.
Directions: Create a family tree in Google Sheets that includes your parents and grandparents (5 pts). Create a pedigree chart on Google Draw and include pictures of each of your family members within the chart (10 pts). Include evidence of your beaker cake lab (5 pts) as well as a recap of your best memories/lab partners for Chemistry (5 pts)
Directions: Create a family tree in Google Sheets that includes your parents and grandparents (5 pts). Create a pedigree chart on Google Draw and include pictures of each of your family members within the chart (10 pts). Include evidence of your beaker cake lab (5 pts) as well as a recap of your best memories/lab partners for Chemistry (5 pts)
0.5 pts per completed ancestor. Max 5 pts. Points deducted for improper formatting, so copy the template above!
0.5 pts per completed ancestor. Max 5 pts. Points deducted for improper formatting, so copy the template above!
1 pt per pedigree picture (5 max). 4 pts for proper pedigree format. 1 pt for background/title. 10 pts total.
1 pt per pedigree picture (5 max). 4 pts for proper pedigree format. 1 pt for background/title. 10 pts total.
5 Points - Evidence of Chocolate Beaker Cake Lab - include picture evidence of your 3 cakes (baking powder, baking soda, baking soda + acid). Include a description of the lab and the results.
5 Points - Evidence of Chocolate Beaker Cake Lab - include picture evidence of your 3 cakes (baking powder, baking soda, baking soda + acid). Include a description of the lab and the results.
5 points -
5 points -
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