Question

Is immunity hereditary?

• A. Yes, maternal derived
• B. Yes, paternal derived
• C. Non-hereditary
• D. Maternal and paternal derived

Hint:

• The genetic blueprint for the immune system is inherited from both parents.
• Innate immunity components are genetically determined.
• Specific adaptive immunity (e.g., antibodies against a particular virus after infection or vaccination) is acquired during an individual's lifetime and is generally not passed on genetically to offspring.
• Passive immunity involves transfer of pre-formed antibodies (e.g., maternal antibodies to child), which is temporary.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Immunity is a complex biological state of having sufficient biological defenses to avoid infection, disease, or other unwanted biological invasion. It has different components:

• Innate Immunity: Non-specific defense mechanisms that act immediately or within hours of an antigen's appearance. The components of innate immunity (e.g., physical barriers, phagocytic cells, complement system proteins) are genetically determined and thus "hereditary" in the sense that the genes encoding these components are inherited.
• Adaptive (Acquired) Immunity: Antigen-specific immune response that develops over time after exposure to a specific pathogen or antigen. It involves lymphocytes (B cells and T cells) and is characterized by immunological memory.
  • The capacity to mount an adaptive immune response (i.e., having functional immune cells and genes for antibodies/TCRs) is hereditary.
  • However, the specific antibodies or sensitized T cells developed against specific pathogens during an individual's lifetime are not directly inherited by their offspring (except for passive transfer of maternal antibodies). Each individual develops their own adaptive immunity through exposure.
• Passive Immunity: Temporary immunity conferred by receiving antibodies from another source (e.g., maternal antibodies passed to fetus/newborn, or injection of antiserum). This is passively acquired, not actively generated by the individual's immune system, and is not "hereditary" in the genetic sense. Option (a) "Yes, maternal derived" could refer to this passive transfer.

The question "Is immunity hereditary?" is broad. If "immunity" refers to the general ability to have an immune system, then yes, the genes for the immune system components are inherited (maternal and paternal derived - option d). If "immunity" refers to specific acquired immunities (e.g., immunity to measles after infection), then these are generally non-hereditary (option c), though passive maternal antibody transfer provides temporary immunity. Considering the options: (a) "Yes, maternal derived": This is true for passive immunity (e.g., IgG via placenta, IgA via breast milk), but this is temporary and not genetic inheritance of adaptive responses. (b) "Yes, paternal derived": Paternal genes contribute to the immune system's genetic makeup, but specific acquired immunities are not passed this way typically. (c) "Non-hereditary": This is largely true for specific adaptive immune responses developed during one's lifetime. (d) "Maternal and paternal derived": The genetic basis for the immune system (genes for immune cells, receptors, cytokines etc.) is inherited from both parents. The checkmark in the image is on (c) "Non-hereditary". This interpretation likely focuses on the fact that specific acquired immunities (e.g., having had chickenpox and being immune to it) are not passed down genetically to offspring. While the genetic capacity for an immune response is inherited, the actual "memory" of past infections is not. This is often what is meant in simple terms when asking if immunity is hereditary. \[ \boxed{\text{Non-hereditary (referring to specific acquired immunity)}} \]