The crystallization or formation of crystals within blood cells, particularly hemoglobin molecules.
From Greek 'haima' (blood) + 'kryos' (ice/cold) + '-y' (state or condition). The term reflects early observations of crystalline structures forming in blood specimens.
Hemoglobin can actually crystallize under certain conditions—in fact, sickle cell disease is caused by hemoglobin molecules that polymerize and form twisted crystalline structures that distort red blood cells into their characteristic sickle shape.
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