Genetics of Immunity

Immunity genetics is the scientific field of study of hereditary factors that determine the functioning of the immune system, also known as immunology. She studies the role of gene factors in the development of the immune system and its response to various pathogenic agents. The genes of the human immune system encode and control the entire process of the immune response. Genetic studies have shown that many components of the immunological response, such as antigen receptors and innate and adaptive immune factors, are concentrated in specific regions of the genome. Scientists have found that the gene regulatory apparatus of the immune system consists of approximately 54 thousand genes. About 19 thousand of these genes are coding genes, and the rest are regulatory genes. These genes are located in the form of seven extensive loci on chromosomes. Most immune system genes are found in two regions of the genetic code called chromosomal regions. However, it has been proven that these two areas are not identical. The differences in the composition of the two chromosomal doses are due to two different mutations that arose in certain cells during their further division and separation. This is why there are only 20 copies of each gene. Scientists explain this phenomenon by the fact that during the process of evolution, apes acquired additional chromosomes, as a result of which the gene pool began to increase. Later, chromosomal twins developed at the site of the mutation. Thanks to several duplicated chromosomes, it was possible to provide some variability in the organism, which is carried out due to the uneven distribution of genes in the germ cells