Question

Cheetahs are very susceptible to virus infections and certain viruses can kill 9/10 cheetahs. Cheetahs also readily accept skin transplants from un-related individuals. You sequence the MHC I gene from several Cheetahs (getting the DNA was difficult) and find that they are identical. Explain how the limited diversity in MHC I explains low transplant rejection.

Answer 1

MHC I is polymorphic gene and no teo indivisusl are having same MHC I called major histocompatibility complex type I which leads to production of cytotoxicity Tc cells which cause killing of cells or oragn tradplant as each individual's are having different MHC1 and hence organ transplant are rejected.

But in cheetah it's observed that thee MHC class I are identical so organ rejections does not develop here as Tc cells not activated but these organism are prone to infection causing more death.

hopeit's clear..thanks