- During maturation, each B-lymphocyte shuffles gene
segments to produce billions of variants which make unique variable
regions.
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- In addition these genes mutate at a rate of about 100,000
times that of most other genes.
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- When a lymphocyte encounters an antigen which fits
the variable region produced by that particular cell, it is stimulated
to divide and produce a large clone of that cell line, producing a particular
antibody.
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- During fetal development, however, cells which find
an antigen which fits die. And so, the fetus doesn't develop immunity
to its self but the mature organism can make antibodies to any foreign
substance.
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