Table of contents

1. Introduction to Microbiology3h 22m
2. Disproving Spontaneous Generation1h 18m
3. Chemical Principles of Microbiology3h 38m
4. Water1h 28m
5. Molecules of Microbiology2h 23m
6. Cell Membrane & Transport3h 28m
7. Prokaryotic Cell Structures & Functions5h 52m
8. Eukaryotic Cell Structures & Functions2h 18m
9. Microscopes2h 46m
10. Dynamics of Microbial Growth4h 36m
11. Controlling Microbial Growth4h 10m
12. Microbial Metabolism5h 16m
13. Photosynthesis2h 31m
14. DNA Replication2h 25m
15. Central Dogma & Gene Regulation7h 14m
16. Microbial Genetics4h 44m
17. Biotechnology3h 0m
18. Viruses, Viroids, & Prions4h 56m
19. Innate Immunity7h 15m
20. Adaptive Immunity7h 14m
21. Principles of Disease6h 57m

20. Adaptive Immunity

Antibody Class Switching

Microbiology

20. Adaptive Immunity

Antibody Class Switching

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Multiple Choice

Antibody class switching rearranges the genes within a B cell which controls the type of antibody secreted by the plasma B cell. During this gene rearrangement, the region of the antibody is affected and the region of the antibody is unaffected. This means that antibody class switching is antigen specificity __.

Constant region; Variable region; Independent.

Variable region; Constant region; Independent.

Constant region; Variable region; Dependent.

Variable region; Constant region; Dependent.

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Verified step by step guidance

Understand the structure of an antibody: Antibodies are Y-shaped molecules composed of two main regions - the variable region and the constant region.

The variable region is responsible for antigen binding and determines the specificity of the antibody. It is unique to each antibody and is not altered during class switching.

The constant region determines the class or isotype of the antibody (e.g., IgG, IgA, IgM) and is the part that undergoes changes during class switching.

Antibody class switching involves the rearrangement of the constant region genes, allowing a B cell to produce different classes of antibodies without altering the antigen specificity.

Since the variable region remains unchanged during class switching, the process is independent of antigen specificity, meaning the antibody can switch classes while maintaining its ability to bind to the same antigen.