Immune cells are able to recognize and attack millions of invading pathogens. The diversity of immune cells is related to the way they are made from their genetic blueprint in a process called V(D)J recombination. The acronym stands for the V (variable), D (diversity) and J (joining) gene segments that get shuffled around. The C region remains constant. The DNA molecule forms a loop and the RAG proteins cut it at that looped spot. The gene segments are then combined in many differing ways.

Photo: Bernhard Schnurr, Ph.D.

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