title: Somatic generation of antibody diversity.
abstract: In the genome of a germ-line cell, the genetic information for an immunoglobulin polypeptide chain is contained in multiple gene segments scattered along a chromosome. During the development of bone marrow-derived lymphocytes, these gene segments are assembled by recombination which leads to the formation of a complete gene. In addition, mutations are somatically introduced at a high rate into the amino-terminal region. Both somatic recombination and mutation contribute greatly to an increase in the diversity of antibody synthesized by a single organism.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000235:genetics*; D001482:Base Composition; D001483:Base Sequence; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D007136:Immunoglobulins