The quantity of antibody produced by an individual’s immune system can directly correlate with the number of gene copies encoding that specific antibody. This phenomenon, where the amount of protein expressed is proportional to the number of gene copies, is observed in several immunoglobulin types. A straightforward example is seen in individuals with varying numbers of certain IgG gene copies; those with more copies tend to exhibit higher levels of the corresponding IgG antibody in their serum.
The practical relevance of this relationship extends to diagnostics and immunogenetics. Identifying antibodies exhibiting such a correlation can be valuable in determining genetic predispositions to certain diseases or immune deficiencies. Historically, understanding gene copy number variation and its impact on protein expression has been fundamental in studying the genetic basis of diverse phenotypic traits, including immune responses.
