I've heard iron carries oxygen in the human red blood cells. Thats certainly because iron is a highly oxydable metal. Hence i'm wondering if other metals such as copper can accomplish that same phenomena in the human body.
2007-05-03 06:43:37 · 2 answers · asked by Roy Nicolas 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The iron in red blood cells is attached to a specially designed protein (hemoglobin) that allows it to transport oxygen efficiently. Other metals do not have a protein in the human body that would allow them to transport oxygen. Interestingly, some creatures such as mollusks and lobsters have copper binding proteins that transport oxygen in the blood instead of iron. These creatures are actually blue blooded.
2007-05-03 07:48:32 · answer #1 · answered by Tryptophan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some insects actually use copper in their blood stream to carry oxygen. This is why grasshoppers have blue blood.
2007-05-03 07:53:00 · answer #2 · answered by Dan D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋