Why is a blood cell considered a cell if it has no nucleus?

Answer 1

Erythrocytes in mammals are anucleate when mature, meaning that they lack a cell nucleus and thus have no DNA. In comparison, the erythrocytes of nearly all other vertebrates have nuclei; the only known exception is salamanders of the Batrachoseps genus.[citation needed] Mammalian erythrocytes also lose their other organelles including their mitochondria and produce energy by fermentation, via glycolysis of glucose followed by lactic acid production. Furthermore, red cells do not have an insulin receptor and thus glucose uptake is not regulated by insulin. As a result of the lack of nucleus and organelles, the cells cannot produce new structural or repair proteins or enzymes and their lifespan is limited.

Answer 2

Like some have already stated...the RBC loses the nucleus at maturity. Here's where it gets interesting...one of the characteristics of a living thing is having genetic information. When the RBC loses its nucleus, it is losing its main genetic information. At this point in the game, some scientists will state that it is no longer a living cell...just the thing that is left over to perform its job function. (You see this is some types of plant cells. At maturity they are completely dead. They are used for structural support and transport of materials in the cell. But, while they are developing, they are quite a live).

The blood cell is NOT a prokaryote, as someone has stated. But, because at one point it was a cell (because it had the nucleus) most will call the functioning erythrocyte a cell.

Answer 3

It is more correctly called a corpuscle. They have very few functions, the main one being to carry and distribute oxygen. This requires no nucleus to perform, due it being a passive movement of oxygen from high concentration (alveolar air) to low (de-oxygenated blood) in the alveolae.
It's life span, while limited, is still longer than other blood cells, white cells, such as neutrophils, although nucleated, survive only for 10 days or so. Normal red cells survive an average of 120 days.

Answer 4

Everyone is right who said the erythrocyte (aka red blood cell) had a nucleus but lost it through the maturation process. Just to clarify though, if you are talking about a "blood cell" you have to specify white blood cell or red blood cell..."blood cell" doesn't say much alone. WBCs have a completely different function from RBCs and they do keep their nuclei.

Answer 5

It is the only cell in the body without a nucleus. In fact, at one point it did have a nucleus but lost it in the developmental process. Shortly before it leaves the bone marrow and enters the peripheral circulation the nucleus is extruded or lost. This is probably so the cell can carry more hemoglobin.

Answer 6

It had a nucleus when it was younger but as it matures it loses the nucleus so it can have more space to deliver oxygen and carbon dioxide to all your organs. It has a relatively short life and will stay in circulation for about 120 days. After that it gets retained by the spleen and get used up by macrocytes.

Answer 7

They initially contained a nucleus and lost it because of particular applications it has to accomplish. It nevertheless acts as an entire. So initially it became right into a very useful cellular till it matures for its function. The cells do not could reproduce to call it a cellular. I advise we call neurons cells which does not have the potential to divide. Who gave you that definition?? It concerns how the cellular orginated .... the blood cellular originated as a cellular. it is not significant what it matures to be ... it continues to be a cellular.

Answer 8

I agree with what the others have said, including that the red blood cells are not prokaryotic.

Just think of all the other cells without nuclei. They are still considered cells -- all the bacteria and some specialized cells such as the sieve tube elements of phloem.

Answer 9

to simply put a blood cell had a nucleus which is expelled after the cell has been fully produced

Answer 10

http://www.bio-medicine.org/?q=/biology-dictionary/blood%20cell

A blood cell is any cell of any type normally found in blood. In mammals, these fall into three general categories: ...
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White blood cells (a.k.a. leukocytes) are cells which form a component of the blood. They are produced in the bone marrow and help to defend the body against infectious disease and foreign materials as part of the immune system.
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red blood cell (erythrocyte) development, including pluripotential stem cell division, restriction of potential and differentiation into a mature red blood cell containing hemoglobin.