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How can our immune system generate such diversity? I need help! Please~?
We have limited number of cells, yet, our ability to respond to different antigens is “unlimited”. How is this possible? How can our immune system generate such diversity?
1 Answer
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
The system is highly adaptable/diverse because of somatic hypermutation (a process of accelerated somatic mutations), and V(D)J recombination (an irreversible genetic recombination of antigen receptor gene segments). This mechanism allows a small number of genes to generate a vast number of different antigen receptors, which are then uniquely expressed on each individual lymphocyte. Because the gene rearrangement leads to an irreversible change in the DNA of each cell, all of the progeny of that cell will then inherit genes encoding the same receptor specificity, including the Memory B cells and Memory T cells that are the keys to long-lived specific immunity.