Difference between Innate and Adaptive ( Acquired ) Immunity

Differences between Innate and Adaptive (Acquired ) Immunity

Innate immunity/inborn/genetic/heritable: Nonspecific host defenses that exist prior to exposure to an antigen and involve anatomic, physiologic, endocytic and phagocytic and inflammatory mechanisms.

Adaptive immunity/acquired/specific: Host defenses that are mediated by B and T cells following exposure to antigen and that exhibit specificity, diversity, memory and self/non-self-recognition.

Difference Between:  

Innate and Adaptive ( Acquired ) Immunity

No	Innate Immunity	Acquired (Adaptive) Immunity
1	Present from birth itself	Develops during life time
2	The immunity remains throughout life.	Can be short lived or lifelong.
3	Contact or exposure with pathogen or its antigen is not essential.	Contact with pathogen or its antigen is essential.
4	Innate immunity is inheritable.	Acquired immunity cannot be passed to the next generation except for a brief period to neonates.
5	It protects the individuals from contraction of diseases of other organisms.	It protects the individuals from pathogens present on other members of the same species.

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