What role does haemoglobin play in red blood cells?

Hemoglobin plays a crucial role in red blood cells by binding to oxygen in the lungs and transporting it throughout the body to tissues and organs. This protein is highly effective at picking up oxygen due to its unique structure, which allows it to bind to oxygen molecules under specific conditions found in the lungs. Once it reaches tissues where the oxygen concentration is lower, hemoglobin releases the oxygen, making it available for cellular respiration, a process essential for generating energy within cells.

This transport mechanism is vital because oxygen is required for the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of the cell, which powers various biological functions. The ability of hemoglobin to carry oxygen efficiently is what makes it indispensable for maintaining the metabolic activities necessary for life.