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The diagram shows a red blood cell from a person who has sickle cell anaemia - OCR Gateway - GCSE Biology - Question 11 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 11
The diagram shows a red blood cell from a person who has sickle cell anaemia. This condition results in red blood cells that are sickle shaped. People with sickle c... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The diagram shows a red blood cell from a person who has sickle cell anaemia - OCR Gateway - GCSE Biology - Question 11 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which statement about sickle cells explains why?
Answer
The correct statement is that 'B) They have a smaller surface area.' Sickle-shaped red blood cells are less effective at transporting oxygen compared to normal cells because their altered shape decreases their surface area relative to volume. This reduced surface area limits the amount of oxygen that can be delivered to the body, causing individuals with sickle cell anaemia to feel tired.