Question

The specific parts of foreign proteins that the immune system recognizes and "remembers" are called ________.

1) receptor sites

2) binding sites

3) antibody sites

4) antigenic sites

5) None of the above.

Answer 1

The specific parts of foreign proteins recognized by the immune system are called 'antigenic sites' or epitopes, and they are crucial for immune memory and specificity in response to pathogens.

Step-by-step explanation:

The specific parts of foreign proteins that the immune system recognizes and "remembers" are called antigenic sites. These sites, also known as epitopes, are where antibodies bind to antigens. Each antigen can have multiple epitopes, allowing for the production of different antibodies, which increases the specificity of the immune response. The ability to recognize these antigenic sites enables the immune system to tailor responses to specific pathogens and is crucial for its memory, allowing it to quickly respond to previously encountered pathogens.