Biology : Hemoglobin questions with
solutions provided
The oxygen dissociation curve of the fetus is to the left of that for its mother. Explain the
advantage of this for the fetus. ✅✅Higher affinity / loads more oxygen at low / same /
high partial pressure / pO2;
(Therefore) oxygen moves from mother / to fetus;
After birth, fetal haemoglobin is replaced with adult haemoglobin. Suggest the
advantage of this to the baby. ✅✅Low affinity / oxygen dissociates;
(Oxygen) to respiring tissues / muscles / cells;
Hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin (HPFH) is a condition in which production
of fetal haemoglobin continues into adulthood. Adult haemoglobin is also produced.
People with HPFH do not usually show symptoms. Suggest why. ✅✅Enough adult
Hb produced / enough oxygen released / idea that curves / affinities / Hb are similar /
more red blood cells produced;
Explain how oxygen is loaded, transported and unloaded in the blood. ✅✅1.
Haemoglobin carries oxygen / has a high affinity for oxygen / oxyhaemoglobin;
2. Loading / uptake / association in lungs;
3. at high p.O2;
4. Unloads / dissociates / releases to respiring cells / tissues;
5. at low p.O2;
6. Unloading linked to higher carbon dioxide (concentration);
The larvae in this investigation were kept at a temperature of 17 °C. Why was it
important that the larvae of both species were kept at the same temperature? ✅✅1.
Allows comparison;
Do not credit 'temperature affects results' on its own;
2. (Different temperature) affects enzymes;
3. (Different temperature) affects respiration / metabolism;
4. (Different temperature) affects amount of dissolved oxygen;
Heat from respiration helps mammals to maintain a constant body temperature.
Use this information to explain the relationship between the surface area to volume ratio
of mammals and the oxygen dissociation curves of their haemoglobins. ✅✅Smaller
mammal has greater surface area to volume ratio;
Smaller mammal / larger SA:Vol ratio more heat lost (per unit body mass);
Smaller mammal / larger SA:Vol ratio has greater rate of respiration / metabolism;
Oxygen required for respiration so (haemoglobin) releases more oxygen / oxygen
released more readily / haemoglobin has lower affinity;
Differences between Red Blood Cell and Bacterial Cell ✅✅Red blood cell:
solutions provided
The oxygen dissociation curve of the fetus is to the left of that for its mother. Explain the
advantage of this for the fetus. ✅✅Higher affinity / loads more oxygen at low / same /
high partial pressure / pO2;
(Therefore) oxygen moves from mother / to fetus;
After birth, fetal haemoglobin is replaced with adult haemoglobin. Suggest the
advantage of this to the baby. ✅✅Low affinity / oxygen dissociates;
(Oxygen) to respiring tissues / muscles / cells;
Hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin (HPFH) is a condition in which production
of fetal haemoglobin continues into adulthood. Adult haemoglobin is also produced.
People with HPFH do not usually show symptoms. Suggest why. ✅✅Enough adult
Hb produced / enough oxygen released / idea that curves / affinities / Hb are similar /
more red blood cells produced;
Explain how oxygen is loaded, transported and unloaded in the blood. ✅✅1.
Haemoglobin carries oxygen / has a high affinity for oxygen / oxyhaemoglobin;
2. Loading / uptake / association in lungs;
3. at high p.O2;
4. Unloads / dissociates / releases to respiring cells / tissues;
5. at low p.O2;
6. Unloading linked to higher carbon dioxide (concentration);
The larvae in this investigation were kept at a temperature of 17 °C. Why was it
important that the larvae of both species were kept at the same temperature? ✅✅1.
Allows comparison;
Do not credit 'temperature affects results' on its own;
2. (Different temperature) affects enzymes;
3. (Different temperature) affects respiration / metabolism;
4. (Different temperature) affects amount of dissolved oxygen;
Heat from respiration helps mammals to maintain a constant body temperature.
Use this information to explain the relationship between the surface area to volume ratio
of mammals and the oxygen dissociation curves of their haemoglobins. ✅✅Smaller
mammal has greater surface area to volume ratio;
Smaller mammal / larger SA:Vol ratio more heat lost (per unit body mass);
Smaller mammal / larger SA:Vol ratio has greater rate of respiration / metabolism;
Oxygen required for respiration so (haemoglobin) releases more oxygen / oxygen
released more readily / haemoglobin has lower affinity;
Differences between Red Blood Cell and Bacterial Cell ✅✅Red blood cell:
