Somatic diversification theory

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-011043",
  "term": "Somatic diversification theory",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A concept explaining the generation of antibody diversity in B lymphocytes through genetic recombination events occurring in somatic cells. This theory posits that a limited number of germline gene segments are rearranged and combined to produce a vast repertoire of unique antibody specificities. The process involves V(D)J recombination, junctional diversity, and somatic hypermutation.",
  "subject": "Chemistry and Human Health",
  "see_also": [
    "V(D)J recombination",
    "somatic recombination"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2012, 84, 1113. 'IUPAC glossary of terms used in immunotoxicology (IUPAC Recommendations 2012)' on page 1246 (https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-11-06-03)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/somatic-diversification-theory/"
}