Question

Which of the following outcomes is most likely if a developing thymocyte fails to bind IL-7?

a) The thymocyte is doomed, unable to develop into either an αβ or a γδ thymocyte.
b) The thymocyte will continue to develop normally.
c) The thymocyte will switch to the B cell developmental pathway.
d) The thymocyte will become an NK cell.
e) The thymocyte will differentiate into a macrophage.

Answer 1

If a developing thymocyte fails to bind IL-7, it is most likely that the thymocyte will be unable to develop into functional T cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a developing thymocyte fails to bind IL-7, it is most likely that the thymocyte will be doomed and unable to develop into either an αβ or a γδ thymocyte. IL-7 is a cytokine that is critical for the survival and proliferation of thymocytes. Without binding to IL-7, the thymocyte will not receive the necessary signals for its development and will therefore fail to mature into functional T cells.