CLONAL SELECTION Meaning and
Definition
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Clonal selection is a biological concept that refers to the process by which antigen-specific lymphocytes are selected and activated during an immune response. This theory was proposed by Australian immunologist Frank Macfarlane Burnet in the mid-20th century to explain how the immune system recognizes and responds to a vast array of foreign antigens.
According to the clonal selection theory, lymphocytes, such as B cells and T cells, possess a diverse repertoire of cell surface receptors called antigen receptors. These receptors have variable regions that can recognize specific antigens on the surface of infectious agents or abnormal cells. When an antigen matches with the specific receptor of a lymphocyte, that particular lymphocyte is selected for activation and clonal expansion.
Once selected, the activated lymphocyte undergoes rapid proliferation and produces a large number of clones. These clones share the same antigen receptor specificity as the parent lymphocyte and are capable of recognizing and binding to the specific antigen. As a result, these clones contribute to the immune response by either differentiating into effector cells that directly eliminate the antigen or by becoming memory cells that provide long-term immunity.
Clonal selection plays a crucial role in adaptive immunity, wherein the immune system can mount a targeted and specific response against many different pathogens. The concept of clonal selection has greatly influenced the understanding of immunology and has been pivotal in the development of vaccines and immunotherapies.
Common Misspellings for CLONAL SELECTION
- xlonal selection
- vlonal selection
- flonal selection
- dlonal selection
- ckonal selection
- cponal selection
- coonal selection
- clinal selection
- clknal selection
- cllnal selection
- clpnal selection
- cl0nal selection
- cl9nal selection
- clobal selection
- clomal selection
- clojal selection
- clohal selection
- clonzl selection
- clonsl selection
- clonwl selection
Etymology of CLONAL SELECTION
The term "clonal selection" is derived from two main sources: the word "clone" and the concept of "selection".
The term "clone" originates from the Greek word "klon", meaning a twig or a cutting. It was first used in the biological context by the German biologist Hans Driesch in the late 19th century. In biology, "clone" refers to a group of genetically identical organisms (or cells) derived from a single parent through asexual reproduction.
The term "selection" comes from the Latin word "selectus", which means "chosen" or "selected". It has its roots in Darwinian natural selection, which is the process by which certain traits become more common in a population over generations due to their advantages for survival and reproduction.
