Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam Practice 2025 – Comprehensive Prep

The reason red blood cells cannot repair themselves lies in their lack of a nucleus. Unlike many other cell types in the body, mature red blood cells are anucleated, meaning they do not contain a nucleus. The nucleus is crucial for cellular repair and maintaining cellular functions since it houses the cell's genetic material and controls the synthesis of proteins. Without a nucleus, red blood cells are unable to initiate repair processes or produce the necessary proteins and enzymes needed to address damage.

This structural limitation is a consequence of their development process. During maturation, red blood cells expel their nucleus to maximize space for hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen. While this adaptation enhances their oxygen transport capabilities, it simultaneously removes their ability to respond to cellular damage. Other choices presented do not accurately explain the incapacity for repair in red blood cells.