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Blood: A River of CellsBlood: A River of Cells
Biologists know that red blood cells contain a protein called
hemoglobin. Find out how proteins like hemoglobin form
their unique shapes.
In persons with sickle cell anemia, an incorrect form of hemoglobin is
made. When this happens, red blood cells become sickle-shaped and can-
not adequately perform their job. The shape of the hemoglobin molecule
is the key to its role—carrying oxygen throughout the body. Discover why
the cells of your body need oxygen.Hemoglobin
Researchers are discovering
new treatments for sickle cell
anemia. New drugs that “turn
on” the body’s production of normal hemo-
globin have shown promise in easing the
symptoms of sickle cell anemia.In the winter of 1667, a
French physician named
Jean-Baptiste Denis
tried a daring new experiment. After examining
a man who exhibited fits of rage, Denis trans-
fused the patient with the blood of a gentle
calf. His actions reflected the beliefs of his
time—that blood carried the characteristics
of the creatures in which it flowed.Sickled red blood cellhttp://www.scilinks.org
Topic: Sickle Cell Anemia
Keyword: HX4164Illustration from a
1692 medical textbook