Final answer:
Hypermutation affects the variable region of antibodies during the process of somatic hypermutation, leading to amino acid changes that can affect the binding affinity and specificity of the antibody. It plays a crucial role in the adaptive immune response by enabling the production of antibodies with higher affinity for antigens over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hypermutation refers to a high rate of mutation occurring in a specific region of DNA. It is most commonly associated with the process of somatic hypermutation in the immune system, where it affects the variable region of antibodies.
In this process, B cells undergo hypermutation to generate a diverse repertoire of antibodies that can recognize a wide range of antigens. Hypermutation introduces random mutations in the DNA sequence, leading to amino acid changes in the antibody's variable region, which can affect the binding affinity and specificity of the antibody.
Overall, hypermutation plays a crucial role in the adaptive immune response by enabling the production of antibodies with higher affinity for antigens over time.