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'''Red blood cells''' (or '''erythrocytes''') are the major cellular component of the [[blood]] that transport [[oxygen]] to other areas of the body. Red blood cells, like all [[blood cells]], are produced in the [[bone]] marrow. They contain the [[protein]] [[hemoglobin]], that contains [[iron]], allowing them to reversibly bind oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. Mamalian red blood cells lack a nucleus and the machinery for protein synthesis and, thus, contain no genetic material of their own. The lifespan of a red blood cell is about 120 days. Dead and dying RBCs are broken down and disposed of in the spleen and the liver where the released iron is conserved for reuse in the synthesis of new cells.  

'''Red blood cells''' (or '''erythrocytes''') are the major cellular component of the [[blood]] that transport [[oxygen]] to other areas of the body. Red blood cells, like all [[blood cells]], are produced in the [[bone]] marrow. They contain the [[protein]] [[hemoglobin]], that contains [[iron]] as a [[coenzyme]], allowing them to reversibly bind oxygen in the bloodstream. Mammalian red blood cells lack a nucleus and, thus, contain no genetic material of their own. They also lack the machinery for protein synthesis  The lifespan of a red blood cell is about 90 days. Dead and dying RBCs are broken down and disposed of in the spleen and the liver where the released iron is conserved for reuse in the synthesis of new red blood cells.  

==See Also==

==See Also==