Question

Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
I) Antibodies can be passed from mother to child through breastmilk.
II) Acquired or adaptive immunity is not specific to any type of pathogen.
III) A vaccine is made up of either a weakened or dead pathogen and is used to develop immunity against that pathogen.

• A. Statements (I) and (II) are true, but statement (III) is false
• B. Statements (I) and (II) are false, but statement (III) is true
• C. Statements (I) and (III) are true, but statement (II) is false
• D. All statements are true

Answer 1

The correct option is C Statements (I) and (III) are true, but statement (II) is false

Immunity is the ability of the body to defend itself against pathogens.
There are two major types of immunity:
1. Innate Immunity or Natural or Non-specific Immunity - the immunity that an individual is born with. This type of immunity is not specific to any pathogen.
2.Acquired Immunity or Adaptive Immunity - the immunity that an individual obtain during their lifetime. In this type of immunity pathogen specific antibodies are produced.

Adaptive immunity creates immunological memory after an initial response to a specific pathogen, the generated B and T- cells not only fights against the infection but also recognise the pathogen when exposed to it again in the future. The B and T memory cells help in this process.

The breast milk produced by the mother in the first few days after the delivery is called colostrum. This milk is a yellowish fluid which is rich in antibodies like Ig A. Thus antibodies can be passed from mother to child through breastmilk.

Vaccine consists of a dead or weakened pathogen, which are introduced into the body of an individual to form antibodies. These antibodies can fight with the pathogen when it actually attacks the body and hence, helps in creating immunity.
For example, if a person is vaccinated with the smallpox vaccine, then the antibody-producing cells are stimulated to produce antibodies against smallpox. Thus, the body is protected against the disease occurring in future.