[Campbell Biology P.551] Based on the information and diagrams, what is a key difference in ... | Practice Question
Based on the information and diagrams, what is a key difference in behavior between normal hemoglobin and sickle-cell hemoglobin under low-oxygen conditions?
A: Normal hemoglobin aggregates to form fibers, while sickle-cell hemoglobin maintains its individual structure.
B: Sickle-cell hemoglobin binds to form fibers under low-oxygen conditions, whereas normal hemoglobin does not aggregate.
C: Normal hemoglobin is unable to bind oxygen efficiently, unlike sickle-cell hemoglobin.
D: Sickle-cell hemoglobin forms a fiber regardless of oxygen levels, while normal hemoglobin only aggregates at high oxygen.
Explanation
The text states that 'the sickle-cell proteins bind to each other in chains that together form a fiber' under low-oxygen conditions. The diagram for 'Normal hemoglobin' explicitly states ' does not aggregate into fibers '.