What term describes the situation when an antibody reacts more strongly with homozygous cells than heterozygous cells?

What term describes the situation when an antibody reacts more strongly with homozygous cells than heterozygous cells?

• A. Epistasis
• B. Dominance
• C. Dosage effect
• D. Antigen dilution

Answer: (C)

The situation where an antibody reacts more strongly with homozygous cells than heterozygous cells is referred to as a dosage effect. In immunology, the dosage effect is observed when antigen expression differs between homozygous and heterozygous genotypes. Homozygous cells, which possess two identical alleles, express a higher density of antigens on their surface compared to heterozygous cells, which have two different alleles and, consequently, a lower expression of the specific antigen in question. This phenomenon is significant during blood typing and in antibody identification, as it may lead to stronger reactions with certain antisera against homozygous cell types due to the increased amount of the target antigen. Understanding this concept is crucial for accurate interpretations of serological results in blood banking and related fields. It emphasizes the importance of genotype in antibody-antigen interactions and helps in identifying specific blood group antigens effectively.

The situation where an antibody reacts more strongly with homozygous cells than heterozygous cells is referred to as a dosage effect. In immunology, the dosage effect is observed when antigen expression differs between homozygous and heterozygous genotypes. Homozygous cells, which possess two identical alleles, express a higher density of antigens on their surface compared to heterozygous cells, which have two different alleles and, consequently, a lower expression of the specific antigen in question.

This phenomenon is significant during blood typing and in antibody identification, as it may lead to stronger reactions with certain antisera against homozygous cell types due to the increased amount of the target antigen. Understanding this concept is crucial for accurate interpretations of serological results in blood banking and related fields. It emphasizes the importance of genotype in antibody-antigen interactions and helps in identifying specific blood group antigens effectively.