Paper 1: The Immune System

Question 1

What does the immune system do?

Answer 1

Helps protect the body by attacking pathogens if they manage to enter the body

Question 2

What are the steps of the immune system?

Answer 2

1) each pathogen has unique antigens on its surface
2) a lymphocyte with an antibody that fits the antigen is activated
3) the lymphocyte divides many times to produce clones of identical lymphocytes
4) some of the lymphocytes produce a lot of antibodies which stick to pathogens and destroy it
5) other lymphocytes stay in the blood as memory lymphocytes ready to immediately respond if the same antigen returns

Question 3

What are antibodies produced by?

Answer 3

White blood cells specific for one particular kind of pathogen

Question 4

What can’t antibodies destroy?

Answer 4

Another kind of bacterium or virus