2007-03-15 10:27:18 · 5 answers · asked by reraise4 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
It would be most accurate to say that they're cell-fragments, not complete cells themselves. Like red blood cells, they have no nucleus and an ususual shape. They still contain RNA, mitochondria for energy, and a variety of other structures that help them do what they're supposed to do!
Perhaps the best way to think of a platelet is kind of like mucus. Living cells give off mucus, and mucus has a bunch of organic stuff in it like a cell, but it's not really alive in itself. In the case of mucus and platelets, they don't need to be. They can both deteriorate and become useless over time, but that still doesn't really make either of them alive in a substantial sense.
2007-03-15 10:35:29 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they Are Fragments Off a Living Cell, See Megakaryocytes.
2007-03-15 10:33:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they aren't complete cells
they are parts that have broken off and been discarded from other cells of the body
no nucleus
don't do metabolic functions
don't adapt or use food
(look up the requirements of life in a bio book, it doesn't do any of them)
2007-03-15 10:31:19 · answer #3 · answered by lizzyhappy2007 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Blood cells have no nucleus and cannot reproduce by themselves.
2007-03-15 10:31:54 · answer #4 · answered by rasdchina 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are brken red bloodcells that have no oxygen.
2007-03-15 10:29:13 · answer #5 · answered by miss mary quite contrary 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋