Are red blood cells considered aliveSolutionTechnically a ce

Are red blood cells considered alive?

Solution

Technically, a cell is considered alive if it has the ability to divide/reproduce, grow, perform biological funtion, change in shape and size and communicate with other cells. Red blood cells or erythrocytes are special class of cells which lack a nucleus of their own but have accessory cytoplasmic organelles which are actively engaged in multiple metabolic and biological processes. The cytoplasm of erythrocytes indeed contains enzymes and ions which are requisite for maintaining its biological function. Furthermore, the erythrocytes also contain large amount of mitochondria to actively produce energy. Also, they are comprised of huge amount of iron inside cytoplasm so as to make biochemical compatibility for oxygen transport via hemoglobin. Although these cells cannot divide, they do retain a proper shape, actively communicate with other cell types and perform very critical and vital biological functions. Importantly, in the naive stages of their developments, erythrocytes do contain a well-defined nucleus which is eventually lost during maturation. This loss of nucleus is not a defect of development but rather represents an adaptation which creates space in the cell for accomodation of large amount of iron and hence hemoglobin.

Thus, red blood cells not actually living cells but they are active functional and vital cells of the body.