Question

What is the difference between innate and adaptive immunity

Answer 1

Answer:

One is inherited (innate) from parents and the other is acquired after birth (adaptive)

Explanation:

Immunity refers to the ability of an organism to withstand or defend itself against diseases and infections caused by foreign bodies e.g pathogenic microbes. There are two major types of immunity organisms employ viz: Innate immunity and Adaptive immunity.

Innate immunity, also called natural immunity is the type of immunity transferred from parents to their offsprings i.e. inherited. The innate immunity is the primary form of defense that works generally to prevent entry of these foreign bodies into the system. This immunity is not pathogen-specific. A good experience of innate immunity in almost all plants and animals is the skin.

Adaptive immunity, also called acquired immunity, is the type that is acquired by an organism after birth and triggered when the innate form of immunity fails. Adaptive immunity is pathogen-specific i.e. it is responsive to a particular foreign body. A good example are the B and T cells (lymphocytes).