Why is it adaptive for hemoglobin to have decreased oxygen affinity at low pH?

What will be an ideal response?


An active, working tissue makes and uses more ATP and so releases more carbon dioxide during cellular respiration. Because carbon dioxide reacts with water in the blood to form carbonic acid, the presence of high carbon dioxide levels decreases blood pH. Low blood pH decreases the oxygen affinity of local hemoglobin molecules, making it easier for them to unload oxygen to the working tissue.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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