Final answer:
The statement is false; clonal selection and clonal expansion are processes within the adaptive immune response. They involve the selection and multiplication of specific B cells and T cells, not the innate immune system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Clonal selection and clonal expansion are both observed in the innate immune response to an infection' is false. Clonal selection and clonal expansion are key concepts in the adaptive immune response, not the innate immune system.
During an infection, when a pathogen is detected, specific B cells and T cells that have the right antigen receptors for that pathogen's antigens are selected for and expanded. This means these cells proliferate and differentiate into effector cells, which help in fighting off the infection effectively.
Clonal selection is the process where specific lymphocytes (B cells or T cells) are chosen because their antigen receptors can bind to a specific pathogen's antigens. Clonal expansion is the subsequent multiplication of these selected cells to produce more cells with the same antigen specificity.
Through clonal expansion, the immune system can increase the numbers of specific cells that are equipped to combat the invading pathogen.