An Important Mechanism for Generating Diversity in Immunoglobulin Light Chain

question 16

Essay

An important mechanism for generating diversity in immunoglobulin light chain V-region sequences is based on the fact that the RAG recombinase generates hairpin structures, rather than blunt ends, at the cleavage sites between the recombination signal sequences and the coding sequences. Explain how this mechanism generates diversity at the junctions.

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Definitions:

Consolidation

The process of combining the financial statements of a parent company with those of its subsidiaries to present the accounts as if the group of companies was a single entity.

Cost Method

An accounting technique used to record investments at their original purchase cost, adjusting for dividends received and not for changes in market value.

Equity Method

An accounting method for recording investments in which the investor recognizes income from the investee in proportion to its share of the investee’s profit or loss.

Investment in Subsidiary

Refers to the holding of shares or interests by one company (the parent company) in another company (the subsidiary).