What determines the specificity of the hypervariable region of an antibody?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The specificity of the hypervariable region of an antibody is determined by genomic rearrangement. The genes that encode for the variable regions of the light and heavy chains of antibodies can recombine in different ways during the development of B cells, leading to a diverse repertoire of antibodies with different specificities. This process is known as V(D)J recombination and plays a crucial role in generating the antigen-binding diversity of antibodies. The hypervariable regions of the antibody are also known as complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) due to their close association with the paratope, which is the part of the antibody that interacts with the antigen.

What Determines the Specificity of the Hypervariable Region of an Antibody