Assuming that each heavy and light chain has an equal chance to be expressed in each cell, approximately how many possible antibodies can be expressed?
A) 192
B) 1,920
C) 19,200
D) 3,360,000

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

There are 10 possible heavy chains and 16 possible light chains, making for a total of 160 possible combinations per B cell. To find the total number of possible antibodies, we must multiple the number of possible heavy and light chain combinations:

10 (possible heavy chains) x 16 (possible light chains) = 160 possible combinations

Now we must consider that each of these 160 possibilities can occur in any B cell. If we assume that each heavy and light chain has an equal chance of being expressed in each cell, then there are 160 possible combinations per cell.

The total number of possible antibodies can be calculated by raising 160 to the power of 2 (because each B cell expresses two identical antibodies).

160^2 = 25,600

However, we must divide this number by two, because we are counting each unique antibody twice (once for each identical antibody expressed by a single B cell).

25,600 / 2 = 12,800

Therefore, the approximate number of possible antibodies that can be expressed is 12,800, or approximately 3,360,000 (12,800 x 264,000 B cells that can be generated in an individual).

Assuming That Each Heavy and Light Chain Has an Equal