Florida Biology EOC Practice Test

What does active immunity utilize to remember past antigens?

1. Inflammation cells

2. Memory cells

3. Platelets

4. Red blood cells

The correct answer is: Memory cells

Active immunity is a form of immunity that develops after exposure to pathogens through infection or vaccination. It relies on the body's immune system to create a memory of the antigens associated with these pathogens. The correct answer, memory cells, play a crucial role in this process. When the body encounters a specific antigen, it stimulates the immune system to produce lymphocytes, particularly B cells and T cells. Some of these cells become memory cells, which remain in the body long after the initial infection. These memory cells "remember" the specific antigen and enable the immune system to respond more effectively and rapidly upon subsequent exposures to the same pathogen. This memory is what provides long-lasting immunity, as these cells can persist for years or even decades, ready to spring into action if the same antigen is encountered again. The other choices do not serve the function of long-term memory in the immune response. Inflammation cells are primarily involved in the immediate response to infection, but they do not have memory capability. Platelets are essential for blood clotting and do not participate in the immune memory process. Red blood cells carry oxygen and carbon dioxide but are not involved in recognizing or remembering pathogens. Therefore, memory cells are indeed the key entities responsible for recalling past antigens in active