03-26-2007, 02:30 PM
Fetal and maternal erythrocytes have the same concentration of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. However, compared with maternal hemoglobin (HbA), fetal hemoglobin (HbF) has a higher oxygen affinity, which facilitates transplacental diffusion of oxygen. The presence of which of the following polypeptide chains in HbF accounts for this finding?
A) α Chains alone
B) β Chains alone
C) γ Chains
D) Both α and β chains
A) α Chains alone
B) β Chains alone
C) γ Chains
D) Both α and β chains