Final answer:
Humoral immunity is an example of adaptive, or specific, immunity, characterized by the production of pathogen-specific antibodies by B cells and the capacity to remember the pathogen for quicker future responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of adaptive, or specific, immunity is humoral immunity. This type of immune response involves the production of antibodies by B cells, which are specifically targeted against each pathogen. These antibodies are crucial because they attack pathogens in extracellular spaces, prevent their attachment and invasion of host cells, and enhance phagocytosis, thus disrupting the infection. Adaptive immunity also incorporates a memory system, which provides long-term protection and a rapid, powerful response upon reexposure to the same pathogen.
The humoral immune response is one aspect of adaptive immunity. The other is cellular immunity, which involves T cells that target intracellular pathogens. However, the term 'adaptive immunity' is more often associated with humoral immunity and the production of antibodies. This form of immunity takes longer to establish compared to innate immunity but is specifically tailored to the invading pathogen and has the ability to remember the pathogen for faster and more efficient responses in the future.