Explain6 marksChallenge
In a species of freshwater fish, every individual carries a unique set of glycoproteins on the surface of its red blood cells. These glycoproteins are embedded in the cell surface membrane and are encoded by a highly variable gene family. When a fish receives a blood transfusion from a genetically different individual of the same species, its immune system rapidly destroys the transfused red blood cells, but no attack occurs when the fish receives its own blood.
Explain how the structure and arrangement of glycoproteins in the cell surface membrane enable the immune system to distinguish between self and non-self cells.