What Major Advantage is Conveyed by Having a System of Adaptive

Question

What major advantage is conveyed by having a system of adaptive immunity?
A)It enables a rapid defense against an antigen that has been previously encountered.
B)It enables an animal to counter most pathogens almost instantly the first time they are encountered.
C)Without it animals cannot defend against bacteria.
D)It allows for the destruction of antibodies.
E)Autoimmunity would occur without it.

Accepted Answer

Having a system of adaptive immunity allows for a rapid defense against an antigen that has been previously encountered. This is because the adaptive immune system is able to recognize and respond to specific antigens, and can produce a quicker and more specific response upon subsequent exposure to the same antigen. This is in contrast to the innate immune system, which provides a more generalized defense against a wide range of pathogens but does not have the specificity or memory of the adaptive immune system.