Some copies of genes serve slightly different roles in development. Hemoglobin, which transports oxygen through the bloodstream, is a tetramer composed of two ? and two ? chains

The globin family is composed of a cluster of ? and ? encoding genes, including some pseudogenes. What is the subunit composition and functional specialization of the embryonic and adult forms of hemoglobin?
What will be an ideal response?


Ans: The embryonic and fetal forms are composed mostly of ?2?2 and ?2?2 and the adult form mostly ?2?2, although minor forms with different ? and ? chains also exist at both developmental stages. The embryonic (and fetal) forms of hemoglobin have a higher affinity for oxygen than the adult form, making it more efficient at obtaining oxygen from the mother's blood.

Biology & Microbiology

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