Question

How can you explain that the same antibodies found in an infant’s body after birth are also present in the infant’s mother?

a) Antibodies are produced only after birth.
b) Antibodies are transferred from the mother to the infant.
c) Infants inherit antibodies from the father.
d) Antibodies are synthesized by the infant's immune system.

Answer 1

Antibodies present in the mother are naturally transferred to the infant via passive immunity through the placenta as IgG and through breast milk as IgA, providing the newborn with immediate protection.

Step-by-step explanation:

The antibodies found in an infant's body after birth are also present in the mother's body because these antibodies are transferred from the mother to the infant via passive immunity. This natural transfer occurs through two main pathways: IgG antibodies cross the placenta during fetal development and provide the newborn with protection from infection, while IgA antibodies are delivered to the infant through the mother's breast milk post-birth. These mechanisms are crucial for the infant's defense against pathogens, as the infant's own immune system is still developing.