Postulates of the Clonal Selection Hypothesis Each lymphocyte bears a single type of receptor of a unique specificity Interaction between a foreign molecule and a lymphocyte receptor capable of binding that molecule with high affinity leads to lymphocyte activation The differentiated efector cells derived from an activated lymphocyte will bear receptors of identical specificity to those of the parental cell from which that lymphocyte was derived Lymphocytes bearing receptors specific for self molecules are deleted at an early stage in lymphocyte development and are therefore absent from the repertoire Postulates of the Clonal Selection Hypothesis ◼ Each lymphocyte bears a single type of receptor of a unique specificity ◼ Interaction between a foreign molecule and a lymphocyte receptor capable of binding that molecule with high affinity leads to lymphocyte activation ◼ The differentiated effector cells derived from an activated lymphocyte will bear receptors of identical specificity to those of the parental cell from which that lymphocyte was derived ◼ Lymphocytes bearing receptors specific for self molecules are deleted at an early stage in lymphocyte development and are therefore absent from the repertoire