Which of the following best describes the role of somatic hypermutations in B cell clonal selection?
Understand the Problem
The question asks about the role of somatic hypermutations in B cell clonal selection. Somatic hypermutations are mutations that occur in the variable regions of immunoglobulin genes in B cells. Clonal selection is the process by which B cells with high-affinity receptors for an antigen are selected to proliferate and differentiate.
Answer
Somatic hypermutations introduce mutations in antibody genes, and clonal selection favors B cells with higher affinity antibodies.
Somatic hypermutations introduce mutations into the B cell's antibody genes, and clonal selection then favors B cells with higher affinity antibodies.
Answer for screen readers
Somatic hypermutations introduce mutations into the B cell's antibody genes, and clonal selection then favors B cells with higher affinity antibodies.
More Information
Somatic hypermutation (SHM) is a process where B cells introduce mutations in their antibody genes. This occurs after B cell activation and antigen exposure. Clonal selection then acts on these mutated B cells, favoring the survival and proliferation of those with higher affinity antibodies for the antigen, leading to affinity maturation.
Tips
A common mistake is thinking somatic hypermutation directly selects B cells. Instead, it generates diversity, and then clonal selection acts upon that diversity.
Sources
- Somatic Hypermutation - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
- Clonal Selection - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
- Somatic Hypermutation of Immunoglobulin Genes - Cell Press - cell.com
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