Final answer:
Clonal diversity is the ability of lymphocytes to recognize any antigenic molecule, which is primarily achieved through the clonal selection mechanism where specific lymphocyte clones proliferate and expand in response to pathogens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The generation of clonal diversity refers to the ability of the population of lymphocytes to recognize any antigenic molecule. This means that the collection of lymphocytes in our body is so diverse that it has the potential to confront essentially any pathogen through the action of specific antigen receptors. The clonal selection mechanism is involved, where the presence of an antigen leads to the selection and proliferation of the specific clones of lymphocytes that have receptors for that antigen. This is a polyclonal response because multiple lymphocyte clones respond to and expand upon contact with an antigen, developing a robust immune response.
Clonal expansion is an important part of this process, which allows for the growth of lymphocyte clones selected based on their ability to recognize specific antigens. As they divide, they form a group of lymphocytes or a clone, that is well-equipped to fight off the infectious agent. This also includes processes such as clonal deletion and clonal anergy, which are necessary to avoid autoimmunity by removing or deactivating self-reactive B cells.