Which of the following outcomes would be expected if somatic hypermutation did not occur?
a. The diversity of pattern-recognition receptors would be significantly lowered.
b. B and T lymphocytes would not be able to produce receptors that recognize antigens.
c. The adaptive immune response would not be activated by pathogens.
d. The secondary immune response to a repeat infection would produce the same antibodies as those made in the primary immune response.

Question

Which of the following outcomes would be expected if somatic hypermutation did not occur?

a. The diversity of pattern-recognition receptors would be significantly lowered.

b. B and T lymphocytes would not be able to produce receptors that recognize antigens.

c. The adaptive immune response would not be activated by pathogens.

d. The secondary immune response to a repeat infection would produce the same antibodies as those made in the primary immune response.

Accepted Answer

Hi everyone welcome back. Our next question says which of the following is a result of somatic hyper mutation? Well we can recall from our content videos with the hype of the word hyper mutation that this process involves a high rate of mutation that allows the immune system to adapt to foreign cells through a process of a high rate of mutation in the genes for the variable regions of antibody cells. So when B cells bind to an aunt jen they began to divide and proliferate in this cellular division. They have a very high rate of mutation in those jeans for the variable region of the antibody cells. And some of those mutations will cause better binding two antigens. So one particular mutation might change that binding site a little bit and cause better binding a stronger affinity for the foreign antigen. And since when the B cells bind they divide this essentially selects for B cells with better binding more affinity for antigens. So that high rate of mutation allows the immune system very quickly turns out a bunch of different varieties, some of which are going to be better at binding. And so it's very quickly adapting to foreign invaders because it can quickly churn out slightly different versions of those B cells. So with that in mind let's look at our answer choices and see which best describes the result of this somatic hyper mutation. Choice A says an increase in affinity and anti pathogen activities of antibodies. Well this is a correct description because the many different varieties are going to produce some that have better affinity for antigens and then make more of themselves. So overall uh there will be increasing the affinity for those uh antigens and because they bind tighter and better uh We'll see more anti pathogen and activities. We'll see more antibodies that are effective at binding to the antigen and then destroying it. Choice B says production of more antibodies to fight pathogens. Well this doesn't affect the amount of antibodies that are produced. Just the kind of antibodies that are produced. So that's not our answer. Choice C. Says confirmation all changes in antibodies to kill other pathogens. Well this is not an answer because the confirmation all changes the changes to that binding site are just changes to the B cell that's finding a specific pathogen. So it's not going to necessarily make it better to kill different pathogens. Just increase its affinity for the specific pathogen it's finding too. And finally Choice D. Says degradation of antibodies after successful elimination of the foreign organism. Well that's not the purpose of the somatic hyper mutation. It's specifically affecting the binding of the antigen to the receptor site of the antibody. So, choice D. Is not our answer. So again which the following is a result of somatic hyper mutation. Choice A an increase in infinity and anti pathogen activities of antibodies. See you in the next video

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Key Concepts

Somatic Hypermutation

Adaptive Immune Response

Secondary Immune Response