Final answer:
Adoptive transfer of acquired immune responsiveness involves passive immunity, where antibodies are transferred to an individual providing short-term protection against pathogens without developing long-term immunological memory.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adoptive transfer of acquired immune responsiveness often refers to the concept of passive immunity. In this process, immunity to a pathogen is conveyed to an individual who lacks it, typically through the administration of antibodies. This can be through naturally occurring means, as seen when maternal IgG is passed through the placenta to the fetus, or IgA is passed through breast milk to a nursing infant, or it can be done artificially through injections of immunoglobulins sourced from animals or other humans who have developed immunity to specific pathogens.
Passive immunity provides immediate, short-term protection by transferring antibodies directly to an individual, but it does not confer lasting immunological memory, which is the ability of the immune system to quickly respond to previously encountered pathogens.
The temporary nature of this transfer means that once the antibodies degrade, the recipient is no longer protected and would need another transfer for continued defense.