Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => That CAN'T be true! => Topic started by: tangoblue on 27/07/2009 23:36:36

Title: Did you know...
Post by: tangoblue on 27/07/2009 23:36:36

...that tarantulas have no hemoglobin in their blood.  This brings up the question 'how does oxygen get around their body'? 
Also they have no platlets in their blood so if you drop it, it will most likely die.  So when they say don't handle tarantulas it's for their health as well as your own.

They have really screwed up blood don't you think?

PS if you have read any of my other posts today I'll admit I'm obsessed with them just now.

Title: Did you know...
Post by: Variola on 28/07/2009 00:21:33

Tarantulas use hemocyanin as opposed to haemoglobin, hemocynanin is copper based as opposed to iron and its a protein bound to a metal ion cofactor ( combined these are called metalloproteins). This binds a single 0₂molecule, but unlike haemoglobin that binds it as a ring, these are more 'stuck on the side' as a prosthetic group.
Other than a little  biochemistry I don't know a massive amount about them, but I think hemocyanins are common in crabs and molluscs type creatures.

Title: Did you know...
Post by: Variola on 28/07/2009 00:23:06

Ohhh I found a wiki link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemocyanin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemocyanin)

It might explain it a bit better than my waffly post!  [:)]

Title: Did you know...
Post by: tangoblue on 28/07/2009 16:15:45

cool. Thanks.