Question

18. Explain how clonal selection is related to specificity (ie- explain how clonal selection demonstrates/is an exmple of specificity)

19. Compare and contrast how resting T cells respond to APC during activation with how activated T cells (like Th or CTL) repond to APC - also compare and contrast what is needed to get the T cell to respond in each case

Answer 1

Ans 18) Clonal selection is an important aspect of study in immunology which helps in explaining the functions of the immune cells especially the lymphocytes and how they are specific towards only specific antigens. With help of the clonal selection, they impart specificity and make the lymphocytes specific towards a particular antigen. The clonal selection is imparted by the each of the lymphocyte having a particular receptor that is highly specific for the antigen based on the V(D)J recombination. An example can be the ability of the lymphocytes to retain the memory of an antigen and upon exposure to the same antigen next or second time, there is rapid increase in the activation of the specific lymphocytes which helps on eliminating the pathogens. In this the B or T cells are able to recognize a specific antigen and hence upon recognition, there is clonal expansion and generation of the lymphocytes that removes the antigen.