• Question: what is the difference between white and red blood cells?

    Asked by lexie2610 to Chris, Josh, Rebecca on 25 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Josh Meyers

      Josh Meyers answered on 25 Jun 2015:

      Red blood cells are what carries oxygen around the body (using an iron atom at the centre of the haemoglobin protein). Your tissues need oxygen in order to function. Red blood cells do not have a nucleus and are very flexible in order to get through tiny capillaries.

      White blood cells are around twice as large as red blood cells and they do have a nucleus (like most other cells). They only make up about 1% of your blood and act as the bodies immune system.

      These two blood cells have totally different roles in your body.
      Also, one of them is red. and the other white!

    • Photo: Rebecca Dewey

      Rebecca Dewey answered on 25 Jun 2015:

      Red blood cells are tiny little things that carry oxygen from your heart around the body and deposit it where it is needed. White blood cells are quite big and help your immune system attack foreign things like bacteria and viruses.

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