Do red blood cells have nuclei?

Mature red blood cells do not contain nuclei. However, red blood cells that are not fully formed and not fully matured do contain nuclei for a brief period of time during their development.

The process of synthesizing new red blood cells occurs through a process known as erythropoiesis. This process begins with cells known as hemocytoblasts, which do contain nuclei. Next, the hemocytoblasts divide and form cells known as normoblasts, which also contain nuclei. Normoblasts get rid of their nuclei before dividing into a mature red blood cell. Mature red blood cells do not contain nuclei and function as carriers of hemoglobin. These cells transfer hemoglobin to cells and tissue all over the body.