The ability of one person to produce over a million different antibody molecules does not require over a million different genes; rather, this wide range of antibody production is due to ________.
A) alternative splicing of exons after transcription
B) increased rate of mutation in the RNA molecules
C) genetic DNA recombination
D) rearrangements of cytosolic proteins in the thymus cells
E) crossing over between the light and heavy chains of each antibody molecule during meiosis I

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The wide range of antibody production is due to genetic DNA recombination, where different gene segments are combined during B cell development to create unique combinations of antibodies. This process is called V(D)J recombination, and it generates a vast repertoire of antibodies from a limited number of genes.

The Ability of One Person to Produce Over a Million