Haemoglobin

Question 1

Describe the oxygen haemoglobin dissociation curve for environments with low concentrations

Answer 1

Organisms possess haemoglobin with a high affinity for oxygen and so the curve is further to the left.

Question 2

Describe the oxygen haemoglobin dissociation curve for organisms living at high altitudes

Answer 2

Oxygen concentration is reduced and so animals have haemoglobin with a higher affinity for oxygen. The curve will be slightly different, more to the left as the animal will absorb more O2 at the low PO2 at high altitudes.

Question 3

Describe the oxygen haemoglobin dissociation curve for Fetal Haemoglobin

Answer 3

Fetal has a different structure to maternal haemoglobin, and has a higher affinity for O2. This enables oxygen to be transferred from maternal to fetal at low PO2 found in placenta. Curve is more to the left.

Question 4

Describe the oxygen haemoglobin dissociation curve for Myoglobin

Answer 4

The curve is very steep near the left. It has a higher affinity for oxygen than even haemoglobin and can be found in the muscles of diving mammals. It releases the oxygen when PO2 in tissues is low.

Question 5

Describe the oxygen haemoglobin dissociation curve for organisms with a high metabolic rate

Answer 5

The curve is more to the right as it has less affinity for oxygen and it unloads more oxygen to the tissues.