Final answer:
A) Produce energy. Red blood cells, which do not contain mitochondria, are unable to produce energy on their own through aerobic respiration. Instead, they rely on glycolysis to produce a small amount of ATP without the need for oxygen. This limits their energy production and prevents them from carrying out processes like reproduction or fighting infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
Red blood cells do not contain mitochondria, which means they are unable to produce energy on their own through aerobic respiration. Instead, they rely on glycolysis, a process that breaks down glucose to produce a small amount of ATP without the need for oxygen. As a result, red blood cells are limited in their energy production and cannot carry out other energy-intensive processes like reproduction or fighting infections.