Antibodies are produced by plasma cells.
Fig. 6.1 shows antigens bound to antigen-binding sites of an antibody molecule. [Figure 6.1]
It is estimated that the immune system of each person can make enough antibodies to bind to over 10¹² different antigens.
When plasma cells make antibody molecules they combine the polypeptides produced by the expression of genes for heavy chains and the genes for light chains.
Research has shown that producing this very large number of antibodies is only possible by modifying the primary transcripts of the genes that code for heavy chains and the genes that code for light chains.

Q: What topic does this question test?

This question tests Immunity in A-Level Biology (syllabus code 9700). It is worth 6 marks.

Q: Which exam paper is this question from?

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Biology May/June 2024 examination, Paper 2 Variant 1 (9700_s24_qp_21.pdf).

Question

Antibodies are produced by plasma cells.
Fig. 6.1 shows antigens bound to antigen-binding sites of an antibody molecule. [Figure 6.1]
It is estimated that the immune system of each person can make enough antibodies to bind to over 10¹² different antigens.
When plasma cells make antibody molecules they combine the polypeptides produced by the expression of genes for heavy chains and the genes for light chains.
Research has shown that producing this very large number of antibodies is only possible by modifying the primary transcripts of the genes that code for heavy chains and the genes that code for light chains.

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