Final answer:
The immune response is highly specific and false; it creates antibodies targeted against specific parts (epitopes) of an antigen rather than the entire molecule, resulting in a precise and efficient immune system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the immune response is directed against an entire molecule is generally False. The immune response, particularly the humoral immune response, is highly specific. It produces antibodies that are targeted against specific epitopes or antigenic determinants on a pathogen, rather than the entire molecule. Antigens, usually proteins, stimulate the adaptive immune response; when B cells encounter these foreign antigens, they create antibodies that bind to the specific antigen with high precision. This specificity of antibodies allows them to bind with antigens and potentially neutralize the pathogen or mark it for destruction by other immune cells, making the immune system highly efficient and effective.
In addition to its remarkable specificity, the immune system does not require each antibody to have its own gene, which allows for huge diversity in the antibody repertoire. Antigenic specificity is essential for combating different pathogens and is key for the body avoiding immune reactions against its own tissues, which would occur in autoimmune diseases. However, in certain conditions like allergies and autoimmune diseases, the immune reaction can become over-reactive, and the immune system starts attacking non-threatening or self-antigens, respectively.