Studies on the control of antibody synthesis. XII. Genetic influences on antibody affinity.

Genetic controls on the concentration and affinity of the anti-dinitrophenyl antibodies produced by different inbred strains of mice in response to immunization with dinitrophenylated bovine gamma globulin in Freund's complete adjuvant were demonstrated. Based upon data on F1 hybrids and backcrosses, it can be concluded that there are genetic controls on antibody affinity which are not linked to the major histocompatibility complex. In addition, the genetic controls on affinity which were studied here appear to be inherited independently of genetic controls on antibody concentration.