Final answer:
Innate and adaptive immunity differ in terms of specificity, diversity, memory responses, self-non self discrimination, soluble components of blood, and major cell types.
Step-by-step explanation:
1. Specificity: Adaptive immunity is highly specific and can recognize and respond to specific antigens. Innate immunity, on the other hand, lacks specificity and responds to a wide range of pathogens.
2. Diversity: The adaptive immune system has a vast repertoire of immune cells and antigen receptors, allowing it to recognize a wide range of pathogens. The innate immune system has a limited set of pattern recognition receptors and immune cells, resulting in less diversity.
3. Memory responses: Adaptive immunity has the ability to create memory responses, which means that upon re-exposure to a pathogen, the immune system can mount a faster and more effective response. The innate immune system does not have memory responses.
4. Self-non self discrimination: Both innate and adaptive immune responses can distinguish between self and non-self molecules. However, the adaptive immune system has a more sophisticated mechanism for self-non self discrimination, involving the recognition of antigens presented on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins.
5. Soluble components of blood: The innate immune system relies on soluble components of blood, such as complement proteins, to help eliminate pathogens. The adaptive immune system primarily relies on immune cells and antibody production to fight off pathogens.
6. Major cell types: The major cell types of the innate immune system include phagocytes (e.g., neutrophils and macrophages), natural killer cells, and dendritic cells. The major cell types of the adaptive immune system include T cells and B cells, which are responsible for cell-mediated and humoral immune responses, respectively.