The vast array of antibodies corresponds to a variety of antigens due to which of the following processes?

The vast array of antibodies corresponds to a variety of antigens primarily due to the recombination of genes that code for immunoglobulin variable regions. This process, known as V(D)J recombination, occurs during the development of B cells in the bone marrow.

During V(D)J recombination, segments of DNA that encode the variable regions of immunoglobulins are rearranged, allowing the cells to produce a unique combination of these segments. This genetic recombination creates diverse antibody specificities, enabling the immune system to recognize and bind to a wide range of antigens. Each B cell, upon encountering an antigen, can produce antibodies that are specific to that antigen due to this diverse repertoire formed through genetic rearrangement.

In contrast, the other processes mentioned do not directly account for the diversity of antibodies in the same way. Mutation of receptor genes can contribute to variation, but it is not the primary method for generating the extensive diversity seen in antibodies. Copying plasmid DNA is unrelated to the immune response and antibody formation. Antigenic drift pertains specifically to the changes in antigens of pathogens, such as viruses, often through point mutations, but it does not describe how the immune system generates a broad range of antibodies. Thus, the