Question

Describe three ways that B cells and T cells are similar and at least five major ways in which they are different (300 words at least)

Answer 1

Both b and t cells are lymphocytes

The three similarity between b and t cells are

1. Both are intergral membrane protein

2. They are made before a cell ever encounter an antigen. They are encoded by the gene assembled by the recombination of segments of DNA

3. They have a unique binding site. This site binds to the portion of the antigen called as antigen determinant

Five major ways by which both are different are as follows -

1. Lymphocytes are released from the bone marrow. Some travels to the thymus where they develop into subsets of t cells. Some lymphocytes travels to the spleen or lymph nodes where they develop into b cells.

2. When a specific invader stimulates helper t cells, it produces chemicals and these chemicals trigger killer t cells to target and kill cells that may have either been infected invader. Unlike t cells b cells do not directly attack the infected cells. Instead they produces antibodies that hijack invaders as they travel in the blood. When they came across invaders, b cells are stimulated into action and produces plasma cells and memory cells

3. B cells produces antibodies and forms humoural and antibody mediated immune system

T cells Produces lymphokines and form cell mediated immunity

4. B cells form plasma and memory cells while t cells forms helper killer and suppressor cells

5. B cells defend against bacteria and viruses that enters blood and lymph

T cells defends against pathogens which includes protest and fungi that enter the cells.