Differences in the B-cell receptors of two different B cells are due to ________.
A) mutation in the genes of that B cell, induced by exposure to the antigen
B) the rearrangement of C-region genes in that clone of responsive B cells
C) a switch in the kind of antigen-presenting cell that is involved in the immune response
D) a patient's reaction to the first kind of antibody made by the plasma cells
E) the recombination of variable regions of the light-chain and heavy-chain genes

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The differences in the B-cell receptors of two different B cells are due to the recombination of variable regions of the light-chain and heavy-chain genes. This process is known as V(D)J recombination and occurs during B cell development in the bone marrow. It combines different gene segments to generate a unique sequence for each B cell receptor. This allows for a wide range of potential antibodies to be produced in response to different antigens.

Differences in the B-Cell Receptors of Two Different B Cells