(c)+Antibodies+&+their+production

(5) Distinguish between antigens & antibodies. //What is antigen short for? //

// v // //An **antigen** is a molecule that an organism will recognise as foreign to itself. As the organism recognises that the **antigen** is not part of itself, it initiates an immune response, which works towards removing the **antigen**. //

// v // //An **antibody** is a protein that is produced by plasma cells in the immune system when an antigen is recognised by the organism. This protein is soluble, and is also known as **immunoglobulin**. //

(6) Explain antibody production. //The details and names of each cell are not needed except for 5.4.5-AIDS (T-helper cells). Videos may help here //

//Antibodies are produced by lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are designed to recognise antigens and produce antibodies that will remove the antigen from the organism. This is done via the following process: //


 * 1) //An antigen enters the organism //
 * 2) //A lymphocyte that produces the necessary antibody to combat the antigen will recognise this antigen //
 * 3) //The lymphocyte will go through many divisions, forming clones //
 * 4) //The clone is a group of lymphocytes, which are all responsible for producing the same type of antibody, which will combat the antigen //
 * 5) //This antibody will then be produced in large quantities //
 * 6) //The antibodies attach themselves to the antigen in the organism, making it harmless //