A Researcher Is Studying a Strain of Mice That Only

A researcher is studying a strain of mice that only incorporates 50% of the necessary iron into its hemoglobin molecules. Which of the following statements is likely TRUE regarding these mutant mice?

A) The hemoglobin in these mutant mice will be able to bind more oxygen molecules compared to the hemoglobin of normal or wild-type mice.
B) The hemoglobin in these mutant mice will be able to bind half the number of oxygen molecules compared to the hemoglobin of normal or wild-type mice.
C) The hemoglobin in these mutant mice will be unable to bind oxygen molecules, because iron-containing heme groups are responsible for the binding of oxygen to hemoglobin.
D) Because oxygen cannot dissolve in the blood directly, no oxygen will be transported in the bloodstream of these mice.
E) There will be no difference between the amount of oxygen transported in the bloodstreams of these mutant mice compared to the amount transported in normal or wild-type mice.