the human immune system can protect an individual from millions of antigens. the

Question

the human immune system can protect an individual from millions of antigens. there are not millions of separate immunoglobulin genes, each one coding for a separate antibody:
a) at the genetic level, how does an individual's genetics handle producing millions of distinct antibodies?

b) what might you predict if an individual had a point mutation in the enhancer region of the immunoglobulin gene?

c) what would be the outcome, in terms of immunity, of having fewer exons within the immunoglobulin Gene?

Explanation / Answer

a. The somatic diversification theroy explains this phenomenon. The observed millions of antibodies are generated from a limited number of V-region sequences that undergo changes within the B-cells during an individual's lifetime.

b. A point mutation in the enhancer region can cause defective B cell development due to change in binding and signalling properties.

c. Fewer exons would mean lesser diversity in the immunoglobulin gene therby hampering immunity.

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