Biological Role
Iron is an essential nutrient for all living organisms, from archaea to humans. It is a major component in hemoglobin, a protein that makes blood red and transfers oxygen to muscles, and is also found in many other proteins. Ruthenium, osmium, and hassium have no known role in the human body.
Read more about this topic: Group 8 Element
Famous quotes containing the words biological and/or role:
“Although there is no universal agreement as to a definition of life, its biological manifestations are generally considered to be organization, metabolism, growth, irritability, adaptation, and reproduction.”
—The Columbia Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition, the first sentence of the article on “life” (based on wording in the First Edition, 1935)
“Is not our role to stand for the one thing which means our own salvation here but with which it will also be possible to save the world, and with which Europe will be able to save itself, namely the preservation of the white man and his state?”
—Hendrik Verwoerd (1901–1966)