Development of the Antibody Repertoire The antibody repertoire is generated during B cell development by DNA rearrangements that combine and assemble variable-region gene segments (somatic diversification theory) Diversity is enhanced by hypermutation in mature B cells (germline theory)Development of the Antibody Repertoire ◼ The antibody repertoire is generated during B cell development by DNA rearrangements that combine and assemble variable-region gene segments (somatic diversification theory) ◼ Diversity is enhanced by hypermutation in mature B cells (germline theory)