Term of The Day

Hemoglobin F: Unique type of hemoglobin formed during fetal development. It has a higher affinity for oxygen than adult hemoglobin and is made of 2 alpha and 2 gamma polypeptide chains, rather than the 2 alpha and 2 beta chains of adult hemoglobin. After birth, erythrocytes carrying Hemoglobin F are destroyed by the baby's liver and are replaced by erythrocytes carrying hemoglobin A.