Chapter 51, Problem 1TYK

What is the primary difference between the innate and adaptive responses?

The innate response does not distinguish between pathogens, while the adaptive response does.

Only the innate response is triggered by antigens.

The adaptive response generates immunological memory and is more specific than the innate response.

The innate response does not kill cells; the adaptive response does.

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Immunity is the ability of an organism to fight the pathogens. Innate and adaptive responses are two types of immune responses, that can be differentiated on the basis of their mechanism of action. They both acts in a combined manner to protect the organism from disease.

Answer to Problem 1TYK

Correct answer:

The primary difference between innate and adaptive immune response is that adaptive response is more specific to pathogens and also generates immunological memory.

Explanation of Solution

Justification/ Explanation for the correct answer:

Option (c) is given that the primary difference between innate and adaptive immune response is that adaptive response is more specific to pathogens and also generates immunological memory. There are four main characteristics of adaptive response- specificity, memory, diversity and ability of recognizing self from non-self. Out of these, innate immune response only possesses the ability of recognizing self from non-self. Hence, option (c) is correct.

Explanation for the incorrect answers:

Option (a) is given that the innate immunity cannot distinguish between pathogens, which adaptive immunity can. But this is not the major difference as the toll like receptors involved in innate branch can recognize different antigens of pathogens. So, it is an incorrect option.

Option (b) is given that antigen can only trigger innate response, and not the adaptive response. Presence of antigen triggers both the responses, thus producing a combined effect. So, it is an incorrect option.

Option (d) is given that the adaptive response kills the cell, while innate response does not. Various macrophages that form a part of innate immunity can phagocytose the infectious cell. So, it is an incorrect option.

Hence, options (a), (b), and (d) are incorrect.

Conclusion

Therefore, it can be concluded that innate and adaptive immune response can be differentiated on the basis of generation of memory and high specificity, which occurs in adaptive immunity.