X-Message-Number: 21330 Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2003 12:38:17 +0000 From: Kennita Watson <> Subject: How many atoms in a blood cell Henri Kluytmans responded to my question: "About how many atoms are there in the average red blood cell? The average white blood cell? Just curious." with a whole lot of numbers and equations that I'll take his word for, ending with: > Total : 10.4 * 10^10 atoms for 1 cubic micron of cell volume > (5% error?) > ================== > ---------- > > Volume of Red Cell = ~ 30-35 micron3 > Volume of White cell = ~ 1000-4000 micron3 So the answer is "about 3 trillion atoms" per red cell and "about 100-400 trillion atoms" per white cell? I'm certainly willing to file this away for drawing-room conversations if not corrected. -- May you live long and prosper, Kennita -- Kennita Watson | Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; | None but ourselves can free our minds. http://www.kennita.com | -- Bob Marley, "Redemption Song" Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=21330